Shloka 29

Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana

Devanagari script

राजानश्च प्रजाभिक्षाः शिश्रोदरपराजिताः / अव्रता वटचवो ऽशौचा भिक्षवश्च कुटुम्बिनः

Transliteration

rājānaśca prajābhikṣāḥ śiśrodaraparājitāḥ / avratā vaṭacavo 'śaucā bhikṣavaśca kuṭumbinaḥ

Translation

君王以向自家臣民勒索施舍为生；为欲与腹所制者；不守誓戒（vrata）者；伪装的苦行者；不净之人；以及自称出离却仍如居家者般纠缠的行乞僧——皆被说为堕离正行。

Word by Word

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nom., Pl.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction: 'and')

• प्रजा-भिक्षाः: begging from their subjects
• प्रजा-भिक्षाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Masculine, Nom., Pl.; 'begging from subjects')

• शिश्र-उदर-पराजिताः: overpowered by lust and appetite
• शिश्र-उदर-पराजिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिश्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उदर (प्रातिपदिक) + पराजित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; तत्पुरुष (Masculine, Nom., Pl.; 'overcome by lust and belly')

• अव्रताः: without vows/discipline
• अव्रताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nom., Pl.; 'without vows')

• वटचवः: ascetics of a (degenerate) order (vaṭacava)
• वटचवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वटचव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nom., Pl.)

• अशौचाः: impure, unclean
• अशौचाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nom., Pl.; 'impure')

• भिक्षवः: mendicants
• भिक्षवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nom., Pl.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction: 'and')

• कुटुम्बिनः: householders (family-men)
• कुटुम्बिनः: Samanaadhikarana (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुटुम्बिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nom., Pl.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma manifests as rulers exploiting subjects, people enslaved by kāma and udara (belly), abandonment of vratas, and counterfeit renunciation.

Vedantic Theme: Bandha through indriya-paratantratā (servitude to senses) and āśrama-dharma breakdown; outer marks without inner purity are avidyā’s theater.

Application: Demand ethical governance; practice moderation (mitāhāra) and self-restraint; keep vows with integrity; evaluate spiritual teachers by conduct, not costume.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: kingdom/court and society

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: continued Kali symptoms in 1.223.30-31 (hypocritical ascetics, vow-breakers)

Characters & Entities

• Kings
• Subjects (Prajā)
• Mendicants (Bhikṣu)

FAQs

What is the importance of vows (vrata) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse contrasts the disciplined life of vows with ‘avratāḥ’ (those without observances), implying that dharmic restraint is essential for purity of conduct and favorable karmic outcomes.

How does this verse warn against hypocrisy in spiritual life?

By listing ‘vaṭacavāḥ’ and ‘bhikṣavaś ca kuṭumbinaḥ’, it criticizes those who display renunciation outwardly while living with impurity, attachment, or household entanglement—treating this as moral failure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice integrity: avoid exploiting power for personal gain, restrain appetite and lust, keep realistic ethical vows, and ensure one’s public religious identity matches one’s private conduct.