Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

सत्यं दानं दयालोभो विद्येज्या पूजनं दमः / अष्टौ तानि पवित्राणि शिष्टाचारस्य लक्षणम्

Transliteration

satyaṃ dānaṃ dayālobho vidyejyā pūjanaṃ damaḥ / aṣṭau tāni pavitrāṇi śiṣṭācārasya lakṣaṇam

Translation

真实不妄、布施、慈悲而慷慨、敬重学问与祭祀供奉、礼敬贤德可敬之人、以及自我克制——此八者皆为清净圣行，乃正统雅行（śiṣṭācāra）的标志。

Word by Word

• सत्यं: truthfulness
• सत्यं: Karta (Enumerated item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार-गणनायाम्

• दानं: charity
• दानं: Karta (Enumerated item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दयालोभः: compassion and non-greed
• दयालोभः: Karta (Enumerated item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक) + अलोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (दया च अलोभश्च)

• विद्येज्या: learning and worship/sacrifice
• विद्येज्या: Karta (Enumerated item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + इज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (विद्या च इज्या च)

• पूजनं: honouring/worship
• पूजनं: Karta (Enumerated item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दमः: self-control
• दमः: Karta (Enumerated item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम् (तानि)

• तानि: those (things)
• तानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पवित्राणि: purifying
• पवित्राणि: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (तानि)

• शिष्टाचारस्य: of good conduct / of the conduct of the learned
• शिष्टाचारस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘शिष्टानाम् आचारः’

• लक्षणम्: characteristic/mark
• लक्षणम्: Kriya-samartha (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra, as typical in Garuda Purana teaching sections)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Eight purifying marks of righteous conduct: satya, dāna, dayā/alobha (compassion and non-greed), vidyā/ijyā (learning and worship), pūjana (honoring the worthy), and dama (self-restraint).

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (purification of mind) through yama-niyama-like virtues supporting higher realization.

Application: Adopt a daily checklist: speak truth, give regularly, practice compassion and non-greed, study, worship, honor teachers/guests, and cultivate restraint (speech, senses, consumption).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.3-4 (sadācāra as dharma source)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of śiṣṭācāra (virtuous conduct) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines śiṣṭācāra through eight purifying virtues—truth, charity, compassion-driven generosity, reverence for knowledge and worship, honoring the worthy, and self-restraint—presenting them as sacred foundations of dharma.

How does this verse relate to karma and one’s post-death destiny described in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing purifying virtues, the verse points to the kind of conduct that refines karma; such ethical discipline is presented throughout the Purana as supportive of auspicious outcomes and protection from harmful karmic consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice truthfulness, give regularly, cultivate compassion in action, honor learning and worship, respect the worthy, and maintain self-control—treating these as daily disciplines rather than occasional ideals.