Shloka 1

Varṇāśrama-ācāra, Aśauca (Sūtaka) Regulations, and Prāyaścitta with Funeral-Rite Notes

Devanagari script

नाम पडुत्तरशततमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / पराशरो ऽब्रवीद्व्यासं धर्मं वर्णाश्रमादिकम् / कल्पेकल्पे क्षयोत्पत्त्या क्षीयन्ते नु प्रजादयः

Transliteration

nāma paḍuttaraśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / parāśaro 'bravīdvyāsaṃ dharmaṃ varṇāśramādikam / kalpekalpe kṣayotpattyā kṣīyante nu prajādayaḥ

Translation

‘نام’ کے عنوان سے ایک سو ساتواں باب۔ سوت نے کہا—پراشر نے ویاس سے ورن-آشرم وغیرہ سے آغاز ہونے والے دھرم کا بیان کیا۔ کلپ در کلپ فنا اور پیدائش کے چکروں سے کیا مخلوق اور اس کی نسلیں واقعی گھٹتی جاتی ہیں؟

Word by Word

• नाम: (entitled)
• नाम: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: संज्ञासूचक-अव्यय (indeclinable introducing title)

• पडुत्तरशततमः: one hundred and sixth
• पडुत्तरशततमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पडु (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक) + तम (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पडु-उत्तर-शत = 106) + तम-प्रत्यय (ordinal ‘106th’)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पराशरः: Parāśara
• पराशरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराशर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said/told
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• व्यासम्: Vyāsa
• व्यासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• वर्ण: social class (varna)
• वर्ण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• आश्रम: life-stage (āśrama)
• आश्रम: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• आदिकम्: etcetera (and related)
• आदिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वर्णाश्रमादि = ‘beginning with varṇa and āśrama’)

• कल्पे: in a kalpa (aeon)
• कल्पे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• कल्पे: in each kalpa
• कल्पे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition)

• क्षय: destruction/decay
• क्षय: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• उत्पत्त्या: by destruction-and-creation
• उत्पत्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (क्षय+उत्पत्ति) इतरेतरद्वन्द्वः; ‘by destruction and creation’

• क्षीयन्ते: perish/decline
• क्षीयन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षि (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• नु: indeed?/pray
• नु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/अनुनयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed?/pray)

• प्रजा: creatures/subjects
• प्रजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• आदयः: and others
• आदयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रजादयः = ‘prajā and others’)

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇāśrama-dharma is taught within vast kalpa cycles; beings diminish through repeated dissolution and recreation—prompting inquiry into sustaining dharma amid decline.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra’s cyclicality (kalpa-pralaya) and the need for dharma as stabilizing discipline; impermanence of prajā within cosmic time.

Application: Treat ethical duties as enduring supports even amid societal change; cultivate long-view responsibility and humility about historical decline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest hermitage / discourse setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (chapter opening into varṇāśrama-dharma exposition)

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Parāśara
• Vyāsa

FAQs

What is the importance of varṇāśrama-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the chapter as a teaching on dharma beginning with varṇa and āśrama duties, presenting ethical order as a foundational lens for understanding human life and spiritual progress.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by introducing dharma as the governing principle, it implies that one’s conduct within ordained duties shapes outcomes across time and cycles, preparing the ground for later teachings on post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with discipline and responsibility appropriate to your stage of life and role, using dharma as a guide—especially when social or personal conditions feel unstable or in decline.