Shloka 5

Bhikṣu-Dharma and the Paramahaṃsa Ideal

Devanagari script

सिद्धयोगस्त्यजन्देहममृतत्वमिहाप्नुयात् / दातातिथिप्रियो ज्ञानी गृही श्राद्धे ऽपिमुच्यते

Transliteration

siddhayogastyajandehamamṛtatvamihāpnuyāt / dātātithipriyo jñānī gṛhī śrāddhe 'pimucyate

Translation

Một yogin đã viên mãn yoga, khi lìa bỏ thân này, liền đạt “bất tử” ngay tại đây—tức giải thoát (mokṣa). Ngay cả người tại gia—có trí, ưa bố thí và vui lòng kính đãi khách—cũng được giải thoát nhờ công đức của lễ śrāddha.

Word by Word

• siddha-yogaḥ: one with perfected yoga
• siddha-yogaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddha (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √sidh) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘सिद्धः योगः’ / ‘सिद्धयोगः’ (one whose yoga is perfected)

• tyajan: abandoning
• tyajan: Karta (Agent participle/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• deham: body
• deham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• amṛtatvam: immortality
• amṛtatvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛtatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• iha: here (in this world)
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (Adverbial locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (here/in this world)

• āpnuyāt: may attain
• āpnuyāt: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• dātā: giver
• dātā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dātṛ (प्रातिपदिक; √dā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (agent noun)

• atithi-priyaḥ: fond of guests
• atithi-priyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atithi (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—अतिथेः प्रियः (fond of guests)

• jñānī: knower, wise person
• jñānī: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñānin (प्रातिपदिक; √jñā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• gṛhī: householder
• gṛhī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• śrāddhe: in/at a śrāddha rite
• śrāddhe: Adhikaraṇa (Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• api: even, also
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि (even/also)

• mucyate: is released, is freed
• mucyate: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A siddha-yogin attains amṛtatva (liberation) upon relinquishing the body; even a wise householder devoted to charity and honoring guests is freed through śrāddha merit.

Vedantic Theme: Jīvanmukti/paramamukti orientation: transcendence of body-identification; also karma-yoga supports purification leading toward release.

Application: For renunciants: steady yoga culminating in non-identification with body. For householders: cultivate generosity, hospitality, and perform śrāddha with sincerity as purifying, elevating acts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Preta-kalpa and śrāddha sections emphasizing śrāddha’s efficacy for ancestors and the performer (general thematic link)

FAQs

What is the importance of śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents śrāddha as a liberating, merit-bearing practice—especially when supported by dharmic conduct like charity and honoring guests—showing it is spiritually efficacious beyond mere ritual formality.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It contrasts two dharmic paths to release: the renunciate path of perfected yoga culminating in leaving the body for immortality, and the householder path where wisdom and righteous duties—particularly śrāddha—also lead to freedom.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dāna (giving), atithi-sevā (hospitality), and informed śrāddha observance with sincerity—integrating spiritual practice with ethical household life.