Shloka 6

Yājñavalkya on the Sources of Dharma and the Saṁskāras of the Twice-Born

Devanagari script

गौतमः शङ्खलिखितो हारीतो ऽत्रिरहं तथा / एते विष्णुं समाराध्य जाता धर्मोपदेशकाः

Transliteration

gautamaḥ śaṅkhalikhito hārīto 'trirahaṃ tathā / ete viṣṇuṃ samārādhya jātā dharmopadeśakāḥ

Translation

乔多摩(Gautama)、商迦(Śaṅkha)与利奇多(Likhita)、哈利多(Hārīta)、阿特利(Atri)，以及我亦同——皆因如法礼敬毗湿奴(Viṣṇu)，而成为向世间宣说达摩的导师。

Word by Word

• गौतमः: Gautama
• गौतमः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शङ्खलिखितः: Śaṅkha-likhita (name)
• शङ्खलिखितः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + लिखित (कृदन्त; लिख् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समास (शङ्खेन लिखितः/शङ्ख-लिखितः इति नाम)

• हारीतः: Hārīta
• हारीतः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हारीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अत्रिः: Atri
• अत्रिः: Karta (Member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Speaker as member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya/Prakara (Also/likewise)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunctional particle)

• एते: these (persons)
• एते: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object of worship)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• समाराध्य: having duly worshipped
• समाराध्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आराध् (धातु) + सम्- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (having worshipped)

• जाताः: became/arose
• जाताः: Kriya/Predicate (Became)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकालिक-कृदन्त (क्त; past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• धर्म-उपदेशकाः: teachers of dharma
• धर्म-उपदेशकाः: Predicate/Complement
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + उपदेशक (प्रातिपदिक; उप-√दिश्/दिश् से ‘उपदेश’ + क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma instruction is empowered and purified by Viṣṇu worship; true dharma-ācāryas arise from devotion to Viṣṇu.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha as the ground of right knowledge and right conduct; bhakti as a purifier that aligns smṛti with the divine will (dharma as Bhagavat-pranīta).

Application: Anchor ethical teaching and leadership in spiritual discipline—regular worship, humility, and accountability—so instruction serves dharma rather than ego or power.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis that Viṣṇu-bhakti protects from pāpa and supports dharma; dharma and bhakti are mutually reinforcing

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Gautama
• Shankha
• Likhita
• Harita
• Atri

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Vishnu for Dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that revered Dharma-teachers became authoritative guides specifically by propitiating Viṣṇu, presenting devotion to Viṣṇu as a source of clarity and legitimacy in Dharma instruction.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it links right guidance in Dharma to devotion to Viṣṇu—implying that correct conduct and spiritual progress depend on authentic instruction rooted in worship, which supports the soul’s upliftment toward auspicious states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek ethical guidance from authentic traditions and teachers, and ground daily conduct in sincere devotion and disciplined practice—so that Dharma is lived, not merely discussed.