Shloka 7

Hari-Pūjā: Puruṣa-sūkta, Bhakti-Supremacy, and Consequences of Neglect

Devanagari script

वर्णाश्रमाचारवता पुरुषेण परः पुमान् / विष्णुराराध्यते पन्था नान्यस्तत्तोषकारकः

Transliteration

varṇāśramācāravatā puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān / viṣṇurārādhyate panthā nānyastattoṣakārakaḥ

Translation

对于依循种姓与住期（varṇa、āśrama）戒律而行的人，正是此道用以礼敬至上之人——毗湿奴；别无他途能真正令祂满足。

Word by Word

• वर्णाश्रमाचारवता: by a person observing varṇa and āśrama duties
• वर्णाश्रमाचारवता: Karana (Instrument/Agent/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (वर्णाश्रमाचारः यस्य सः/वर्णाश्रमाचारवत्), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पुरुषेण: by a man/person
• पुरुषेण: Karana (Instrument/Agent/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• परः: supreme
• परः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पुमान्: the Person (Supreme Being)
• पुमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुमान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karma (Object in passive/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• आराध्यते: is worshipped
• आराध्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + राध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

• पन्था: the path; means
• पन्था: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• अन्यः: other
• अन्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तत्: of him/that
• तत्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (genitive in compound: 'of him/that')

• तोषकारकः: causing (his) satisfaction
• तोषकारकः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तोष (प्रातिपदिक) + कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य तोषस्य कारकः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇāśrama-ācāra, rightly lived, is itself a path of Viṣṇu-ārādhana; no alternative path pleases Him if it bypasses disciplined dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: prescribed duties offered to the Supreme Person; harmony of dharma and bhakti.

Application: Align daily roles and responsibilities with ethical discipline; offer work as worship (īśvara-arpana-buddhi) and avoid compartmentalizing devotion from conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections praising varṇāśrama as stabilizing dharma and enabling devotion; Garuda Purana: teachings that right conduct supports successful worship and post-death welfare

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Varna
• Ashrama

FAQs

What is the importance of varṇāśrama-dharma in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents varṇāśrama-based right conduct as a direct and valid means of worship, stating that it is a primary way to please Lord Viṣṇu.

Does this verse describe a specific “path” to liberation or divine favor?

Yes. It frames disciplined living according to one’s life-stage and social duty as the “panthāḥ” (means) by which Viṣṇu is properly propitiated, emphasizing inner alignment through dharma rather than alternative substitutes.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Perform your responsibilities ethically (family, work, study, service) with integrity and devotion, treating daily duty as worship—rather than separating spirituality from conduct.