Shloka 4

Varṇāśrama Dharma, Ethical Virtues, and Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga Culminating in ‘Ahaṃ Brahma’

Devanagari script

शुश्रूषैव द्विजातीनां शूद्राणां धर्मसाधनम् / कारुकर्म तथाऽजीवो पाकयज्ञो ऽपि धर्मतः

Transliteration

śuśrūṣaiva dvijātīnāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ dharmasādhanam / kārukarma tathā'jīvo pākayajño 'pi dharmataḥ

Translation

对首陀罗而言，恭敬勤恳地侍奉二生者本身即为成就法（dharma）之道；同样，从事工艺以为职业、以此谋生，并依正法行“熟食祭”（pākayajña，熟食供献）亦皆为善。

Word by Word

• śuśrūṣā: service; attendance
• śuśrūṣā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuśrūṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana

• eva: indeed; alone
• eva: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; avadhāraṇa (emphasis)

• dvijātīnām: of the twice-born classes
• dvijātīnām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvijāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (जाति-शब्द), Ṣaṣṭhī (6), Bahuvacana

• śūdrāṇām: of the śūdras
• śūdrāṇām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6), Bahuvacana

• dharmasādhanam: means of dharma; religious duty
• dharmasādhanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (dharmasya sādhanaṃ)

• kārukarma: artisan work; craft
• kārukarma: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāru + karma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (kāruṇāṃ karma)

• tathā: also; likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya/anuvṛtti (also; likewise)

• ājīvaḥ: livelihood
• ājīvaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana

• pākayajñaḥ: domestic offering (pāka-yajña)
• pākayajñaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāka + yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (pāka-rūpaḥ yajñaḥ; gṛhya/household offering)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya (also)

• dharmataḥ: according to dharma; rightly
• dharmataḥ: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्)
• Form: Avyaya; tasil-pratyaya (तसिल्) forming adverb: ‘according to dharma’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śūdra dharma is service to the twice-born; crafts and livelihood are legitimate; simple cooked-food offerings (pākayajña) are dharmic.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as accessible through one’s station; sanctification of work (karma) and domestic offering as a purifier.

Application: Serve with sincerity; pursue skilled work ethically; maintain simple daily offerings/thankfulness practices within one’s means.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana household-dharma and daily rites passages (gṛhya-oriented)

Characters & Entities

• Dvijātis
• Śūdras

FAQs

What is the importance of Śūdra dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that sincere service to the twice-born, honest craft-based work, and simple domestic offerings are valid and righteous means for a Śūdra to uphold dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames the path through karma and dharma: performing one’s rightful duties and livelihood righteously is presented as dharma-sādhanā, shaping future outcomes through ethical action.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat service as sacred when done with integrity, pursue ethical livelihood through skilled work, and maintain simple daily acts of offering/ gratitude as part of disciplined living.