Shloka 21

Devanagari script

एते मान्या यथापूर्वमेभ्यो माता गरीयसी / प्रतिवेदं ब्रह्मचर्यं द्वादशाब्दानि पञ्च वा

Transliteration

ete mānyā yathāpūrvamebhyo mātā garīyasī / prativedaṃ brahmacaryaṃ dvādaśābdāni pañca vā

Translation

这些（长者）应如先前一般受人敬奉；其中以母亲最为尊贵。就每一部吠陀而言，应守持梵行（brahmacarya）之戒：十二年，或（至少）五年。

Word by Word

• ete: these (persons)
• ete: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• mānyāḥ: worthy of honor
• mānyāḥ: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• yathā-pūrvam: as before/according to prior order
• yathā-pūrvam: Kriya-viseshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb)

• ebhyaḥ: than these
• ebhyaḥ: Apadana (Ablative of comparison/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th) वा चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; अत्र ‘एभ्यः’ = ‘than these’ (ablative of comparison)

• mātā: the mother
• mātā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• garīyasī: more venerable/greater
• garīyasī: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: garīyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative)

• prati-vedam: for each Veda
• prati-vedam: Kriya-viseshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb)

• brahmacaryam: studentship (brahmacarya)
• brahmacaryam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmacarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र कालपरिमाणवाच्यं (term of studentship)

• dvādaśa-abdāni: twelve years
• dvādaśa-abdāni: Karma (Measure/extent as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + abda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (द्वादश अब्दाः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• pañca: five (years)
• pañca: Karma (Measure/extent/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcan (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (elliptic: ‘pañca (abdāni)’)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle ‘or’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hierarchy of veneration (mother foremost) and prescribed duration of brahmacarya per Veda (twelve years or at least five).

Vedantic Theme: Śraddhā and saṃskāra-supported study as preparation for higher knowledge; gratitude (ṛṇa) to parents/teachers as ethical ground for sādhana.

Application: Maintain respectful conduct toward elders, especially mother; commit to sustained study and self-restraint aligned with one’s educational vows.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household and gurukula (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.94.20 (teacher roles); Garuda Purana 1.94.22-24 (timing of rites; consequences of omission)

Characters & Entities

• Mother
• Vedas
• Brahmachari

FAQs

What is the importance of honoring the mother in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that while elders are to be respected, the mother is to be regarded as the most venerable, emphasizing maternal reverence as a core dharmic priority.

What does this verse say about brahmacharya for Vedic study?

It prescribes brahmacarya as a disciplined mode of study and restraint, to be observed per Veda—traditionally for twelve years, with an alternative minimum of five years.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain tangible respect and care for one’s mother and elders, and adopt disciplined learning—self-control, ethical conduct, and focused study—when pursuing sacred or serious education.