Shloka 21

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

सर्वैद्रियसमाहारो धारणाध्याननित्यता / भावसंशुद्धिरेत्येष परिव्राड्धर्म उच्यते

Transliteration

sarvaidriyasamāhāro dhāraṇādhyānanityatā / bhāvasaṃśuddhiretyeṣa parivrāḍdharma ucyate

Translation

Thu nhiếp mọi căn (giữ gìn các giác quan), thường hằng tu tập định tâm (dhāraṇā) và thiền quán (dhyāna), cùng sự thanh lọc nội tâm—đó được gọi là pháp (dharma) của vị du phương xuất gia (parivrājaka).

Word by Word

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (समासाङ्ग)

• इन्द्रिय: sense-faculty
• इन्द्रिय: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• समाहारः: withdrawal/collection
• समाहारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाहार (प्रातिपदिक; सम् + आ + √हृ (धातु) + घञ्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्व-इन्द्रिय-समाहारः = withdrawal/collection of all senses)

• धारणा: concentration (dhāraṇā)
• धारणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारणा (प्रातिपदिक; √धृ (धातु) + युच्/णा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• ध्यान: meditation
• ध्यान: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक; √ध्यै (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• नित्यता: constancy in concentration and meditation
• नित्यता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नित्य + ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तान्त-भाववाचक; द्वन्द्व-समास (धारणा+ध्यान) ततः नित्यता (constancy in)

• भाव: inner disposition; state of mind
• भाव: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• संशुद्धिः: purification
• संशुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक; सम् + √शुध् (धातु) + क्तिन्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भाव-संशुद्धिः = purification of mind)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परिव्राट्: wandering renunciant (parivrājaka)
• परिव्राट्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिव्राट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धर्मः: duty; dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परिव्राट्-धर्मः = dharma of the renunciant)

• उच्यते: is said; is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Parivrājaka-dharma: restraint of all senses, constancy in concentration and meditation, and purification of inner disposition.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-shuddhi leading to jnana; pratyahara-dharana-dhyana as direct supports for Self-realization and freedom from samsara.

Application: Practice sense-discipline (digital/food/speech), maintain a fixed meditation schedule, and cultivate inner honesty to purify motives and reactions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: pilgrimage/road/forest-edge

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.17-20 (graded ashrama/renunciation disciplines leading to inner purification)

Characters & Entities

• Parivrājaka (wandering renunciate)

FAQs

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

This verse defines parivrājaka-dharma as inner discipline—sense-restraint, steady concentration/meditation, and purification of one’s inner disposition—placing spiritual practice above external identity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing bhāva-saṁśuddhi (purification of inner state) and sustained dhyāna, it points to liberation-oriented living where karmic impulses are weakened through restraint and contemplation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily sense-restraint (moderation), set a fixed meditation routine, and actively purify intention—reducing reactivity and cultivating clarity in action.