Shloka 43

Nīti for Calamity, Wealth, Friendship, Charity, and Restraint of Kāma

Devanagari script

स्वकर्म धर्मार्जितजीवितानां शास्त्रेषु दारेषु सदा रतानाम् / जितेन्द्रियाणामतिथिप्रियाणां गृहे ऽपि मोक्षः पुरुषोत्तमानाम्

Transliteration

svakarma dharmārjitajīvitānāṃ śāstreṣu dāreṣu sadā ratānām / jitendriyāṇāmatithipriyāṇāṃ gṛhe 'pi mokṣaḥ puruṣottamānām

Translation

凡依自业而行、以法（dharma）养命者；恒乐于圣典（śāstra）、忠贞于配偶者；制伏诸根、喜敬宾客者——此等高贵之人，即使居家亦得解脱（moksha），归于至上人格主宰普鲁沙奥塔玛（Purushottama）。

Word by Word

• स्वकर्म: one's own duty/action
• स्वकर्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (स्वं कर्म)

• धर्मार्जितजीवितानाम्: of those whose livelihood is earned righteously
• धर्मार्जितजीवितानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + अर्जित + जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मेण अर्जितं जीवितं येषाम्)

• शास्त्रेषु: in scriptures
• शास्त्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• दारेषु: in/with wives
• दारेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• रतानाम्: of those devoted/engaged
• रतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समूहवाचक), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; विशेषण (धर्मार्जितजीवितानाम् इत्यादि)

• जितेन्द्रियाणाम्: of those who have conquered the senses
• जितेन्द्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जित + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (जितानि इन्द्रियाणि येषाम्)

• अतिथिप्रियाणाम्: of those who love guests
• अतिथिप्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिथि + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समूहवाचक), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (अतिथयः प्रियाः येषाम्)

• गृहे: in the house
• गृहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• मोक्षः: liberation
• मोक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुरुषोत्तमानाम्: of the best men
• पुरुषोत्तमानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (उत्तमाः पुरुषाः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mokṣa is attainable in household life through dharma-aligned livelihood, śāstra-orientation, fidelity, indriya-jaya, and atithi-sevā—integrating action with inner freedom.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga leading to citta-śuddhi; liberation not dependent on external renunciation but on inner detachment and sattva.

Application: Earn ethically, study and reflect on śāstra, honor marital commitments, practice sense-restraint, and treat guests/others with reverence; make the home a place of sādhana.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: home/guest-hall (atithi-śālā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.109.39-42 (warnings on instability/insatiability)

FAQs

What is the importance of Grihastha Dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that liberation is possible even for householders when they live by their own duties, earn through dharma, remain devoted to scripture, practice fidelity, control the senses, and honor guests.

How does this verse explain the path to moksha?

It frames moksha as the fruit of integrated ethical-spiritual discipline—right livelihood, scriptural orientation, self-restraint, and service—rather than requiring withdrawal from household life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Earn honestly, keep a daily connection to sacred study, practice fidelity and restraint, and cultivate hospitality and service—these form a lived path toward inner freedom.