Shloka 5

Varṇāśrama Dharma, Ethical Virtues, and Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga Culminating in ‘Ahaṃ Brahma’

Devanagari script

भिक्षाचर्याथ शुश्रूषा गुरोः स्वाध्याय एव च / सन्ध्याकर्माग्निकार्यञ्च धर्मो ऽयं ब्रह्मचारिणः

Transliteration

bhikṣācaryātha śuśrūṣā guroḥ svādhyāya eva ca / sandhyākarmāgnikāryañca dharmo 'yaṃ brahmacāriṇaḥ

Translation

برہماچاری کا دھرم یہ ہے—بھکشاچریا، گرو کی شُشروشا-خدمت، سوادھیائے، سندھیا-کرم اور اگنی-کارْیَ (اگنی کی سیوا/سمِدھا ارپن)۔

Word by Word

• bhikṣācaryā: going for alms; alms-round
• bhikṣācaryā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhikṣā + caryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (bhikṣāyāḥ caryā)

• atha: then; further
• atha: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; anukrama/anuvṛtti (then; further)

• śuśrūṣā: service
• śuśrūṣā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuśrūṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana

• guroḥ: of the teacher
• guroḥ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6), Ekavacana

• svādhyāyaḥ: self-study; Vedic recitation
• svādhyāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svādhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; avadhāraṇa (indeed)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya (and)

• sandhyākarma: twilight rites (sandhyā)
• sandhyākarma: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā + karma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (sandhyāyāḥ karma)

• agnikāryam: fire-duty; tending the sacred fire
• agnikāryam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni + kārya (प्रातिपदिक; कृत्य)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (agner kāryam)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya (and)

• dharmaḥ: duty
• dharmaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana

• ayam: this
• ayam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana; sarvanāma; viśeṣaṇa

• brahmacāriṇaḥ: of a brahmacārin (student)
• brahmacāriṇaḥ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmacārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6), Ekavacana

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmacārin dharma: bhikṣā, guru-śuśrūṣā, svādhyāya, sandhyā-karman, and tending the sacred fire.

Vedantic Theme: Āśrama-dharma as preparation for jñāna; discipline and svādhyāya as means to antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and steadiness (śama-dama).

Application: Maintain a daily study-and-practice routine; serve mentors; keep regular prayer/meditation at dawn and dusk; cultivate simplicity and self-restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ashram

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana instructions on daily rites (nitya-karma) and conduct for students/householders

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Agni
• Brahmacārin

FAQs

What is the importance of brahmacārin dharma in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse defines brahmacārin discipline as a complete training in humility (alms), obedience and learning (guru-service), scriptural grounding (svādhyāya), and daily ritual purity (Sandhyā and fire-duties).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By prescribing self-control, right conduct, and sacred practice, it presents brahmacarya as a foundation for dharma and spiritual merit—key supports for one’s onward journey and higher aims like liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt disciplined study, daily prayer/meditation at regular times, respect for teachers/mentors, and a simple lifestyle that reduces ego and strengthens ethical living.