Shloka 35

Madātyaya Nidāna and Lakṣaṇa: Liquor’s Qualities, Tridoṣa Presentations, and Fainting Signs

Devanagari script

बलकासदेशपात्रं प्रकृतिसहतामथवा वयांसि? / प्रविभज्ज्यात्तनुरूपं पिबति ततः पिबत्यमृत

Transliteration

balakāsadeśapātraṃ prakṛtisahatāmathavā vayāṃsi? / pravibhajjyāttanurūpaṃ pibati tataḥ pibatyamṛta

Translation

بحسب الموضع، وبحسب الإناء (پاترا)، وبحسب القابلية الفطرية—بل وحتى بحسب صنف الكائنات الحاضرة—يُقسَّم نصيبُه. فإذا وُزِّع على هيئةٍ تلائم كلَّ واحدٍ شربه؛ ثم يشرب ما هو كالأمريتا (amṛta)، رحيق الخلود.

Word by Word

• बल-का-स-देश-पात्रम्: (the dose) with regard to strength, cough, place, and vessel
• बल-का-स-देश-पात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + कास (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (contextual: 'according to strength, cough-condition, place, and vessel')

• प्रकृति-सहताम्: suitability to (one’s) constitution
• प्रकृति-सहताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक) + सहता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रकृतेः सहता = suitability to constitution)

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• वयांसि: ages (stages of life)
• वयांसि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; संदर्भे 'ages' (as a factor)

• प्रविभज्यात्: should apportion/divide appropriately
• प्रविभज्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वि + भज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• तनु-रूपम्: according to the body/constitution
• तनु-रूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तन्वाः रूपम् = according to the body)

• पिबति: drinks
• पिबति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/हेतु-अव्यय (adverb: then/thereafter)

• पिबति: drinks
• पिबति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• अमृतम्: nectar/ambrosia
• अमृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: What is given/consumed should be apportioned according to place, vessel, capacity, and the nature of recipients; when suited to each, it becomes ‘nectar-like’ (beneficial).

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra-bheda (differences in qualification) and yukti (context-sensitive propriety) in teaching, giving, and practice.

Application: Tailor instruction, charity, and discipline to context and capacity; avoid one-size-fits-all spirituality; distribute resources ethically and effectively.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-social setting implied (place and vessel)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dāna/Ācāra themes): deśa-kāla-pātra considerations in giving and rites (general thematic parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of proportional allotment (pravibhāga) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that post-death experiences and “what is received” are distributed according to place, receptacle, and innate capacity—implying results are tailored rather than uniform.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It suggests the departed being’s experience (what it can ‘drink’ or receive) depends on its condition and capacity, aligning with the Garuda Purana’s broader theme that karmic and subtle-body factors shape the journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform rites and ethical living with sincerity: the fruits of actions and offerings are understood as received according to fitness and circumstance, encouraging both proper ritual care and moral discipline.