Shloka 18

Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and Dāna as the Soul’s True Companion on the Path to Yama

Devanagari script

परस्परं धर्मकृन्तं स्वकीयं सम्पाद्य लक्ष्यं पथि सञ्चरन्त्स्वम् / पक्षीन्द्र वाक्यानि शृणुष्व तानि मनोरमाणि प्रवदन्ति यानि

Transliteration

parasparaṃ dharmakṛntaṃ svakīyaṃ sampādya lakṣyaṃ pathi sañcarantsvam / pakṣīndra vākyāni śṛṇuṣva tāni manoramāṇi pravadanti yāni

Translation

ด้วยการเกื้อกูลกันในการทรงไว้และเสริมกำลังแห่งธรรม เขาทั้งหลายย่อมบรรลุเป้าหมายของตนแล้วดำเนินไปบนหนทางนั้น โอ้จอมแห่งปักษา จงสดับถ้อยคำที่เขากล่าว อันไพเราะและควรแก่การฟัง

Word by Word

• परस्परम्: mutually
• परस्परम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय, परस्परार्थक (reciprocal adverb) ‘mutually’

• धर्मकृन्तम्: that which cuts/destroys dharma
• धर्मकृन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + कृन्त (√कृत्/कृन्त्) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘धर्मं कृन्तति’ (cutting/destroying dharma); शतृ/क्त-प्राय कृदन्त used adjectivally; qualifying ‘लक्ष्यम्’/‘स्वकीयम्’ (contextual)

• स्वकीयम्: one's own
• स्वकीयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वकीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘one’s own’

• सम्पाद्य: having achieved
• सम्पाद्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पद् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), from √पद् with उपसर्ग सम्; ‘having accomplished/obtained’

• लक्ष्यम्: goal/target
• लक्ष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सञ्चरन्: moving/wandering
• सञ्चरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + चर् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘moving/wandering’

• स्वम्: oneself
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; reflexive ‘self/one’s own (person)’

• पक्षीन्द्र: O lord of birds
• पक्षीन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘पक्षिणाम् इन्द्रः’

• वाक्यानि: words/sayings
• वाक्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मनोरमाणि: delightful
• मनोरमाणि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोरम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-प्राय (मनः + रम) ‘delightful’; qualifies ‘वाक्यानि/तानि’

• प्रवदन्ति: they say/utter
• प्रवदन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• यानि: which
• यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; relative pronoun referring to ‘वाक्यानि’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is upheld through mutual reinforcement; attentive listening (śravaṇa) to wholesome teachings guides one toward the proper aim (lakṣya) on life’s path.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa as a gateway to right understanding; sādhusaṅga and reciprocal support as aids to purification and right pursuit.

Application: Seek and share dharmic counsel; build communities that reinforce ethical living; practice attentive listening to scripture and wise instruction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: teaching setting / narrative frame

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dialogic frame: Viṣṇu instructing Garuḍa; recurring exhortations to listen (śṛṇu) and uphold dharma (general internal parallels)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of dharma in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse frames dharma as the stabilizing principle that helps one secure the right aim (lakṣya) while moving along life’s path, making spiritual instruction effective and “delightful” to receive.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies that progress on the path (pathi sañcaran) depends on aligning one’s goal with dharma; such alignment prepares the seeker—especially in Preta Kanda context—for understanding teachings relevant to post-death destiny.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose clear life-goals guided by dharma, cultivate mutual support in righteous conduct, and regularly listen to elevating teachings—so one’s actions and intentions remain aligned with spiritual wellbeing.