Shloka 17

Aśva–Gaja Āyurveda: Marks, Defects, Wounds, Doṣa-Therapy, and Protective Rites

Devanagari script

अधमे ऽष्टपलानि स्युर्मध्यमे स्युश्चतुर्दश / शरन्निदाघयोर्नैवदेयं नैव तु दापयेत्

Transliteration

adhame 'ṣṭapalāni syurmadhyame syuścaturdaśa / śarannidāghayornaivadeyaṃ naiva tu dāpayet

Translation

في المرتبة الدنيا يكون المقدار ثمانية «بالا»، وفي المرتبة الوسطى يكون أربعة عشر. أمّا في الخريف وفي لهيب الصيف فلا يُعطى ذلك، ولا ينبغي أن يُحَمِّل المرء غيره على إعطائه.

Word by Word

• अधमे: in the lowest (grade)
• अधमे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (in the lowest case/grade)

• अष्टपलानि: eight palas (measures)
• अष्टपलानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (eight palas)

• स्युः: should be / would be
• स्युः: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मध्यमे: in the middle (grade)
• मध्यमे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (in the middle grade)

• स्युः: should be
• स्युः: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे (संख्यावाचक-रूपे), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (fourteen)

• शरत्: of autumn
• शरत्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वे पूर्वपद-रूपम्

• निदाघयोः: of (the two seasons) summer and autumn
• निदाघयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदाघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; (शरत् + निदाघ) इत्ययोः ऋतूयोः

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपातः (negative particle)

• एव: indeed / at all
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपातः (emphatic particle)

• देयम्: to be given
• देयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + य (कृत्) → देय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (to be given)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपातः

• एव: at all
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपातः

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-निपातः (but/indeed)

• दापयेत्: should cause (it) to be given
• दापयेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + णिच् (causative) → दापय (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: cause to give)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Appropriate measure (mātrā) and proper timing (kāla) govern what may be given; avoid giving in unsuitable seasons.

Vedantic Theme: Kāla-niyama and yukti (appropriateness) as supports for sattvic order.

Application: Follow prescribed quantities by grade; suspend the giving in autumn and peak summer; do not instruct others to do it either.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections on dāna/niyama and seasonal do’s/don’ts (kāla-vidhi) in ritual/charity contexts

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of prescribed ‘pala’ measurements in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse indicates that ritual offerings/gifts are graded by measure (e.g., 8 palas for a lower grade and 14 for a middle grade), showing that Garuda Purana treats ritual accuracy and proportionality as part of dharma.

Why does the verse prohibit giving in autumn and summer?

It states a seasonal restriction—during śarad (autumn) and nidāgha (peak heat/summer), the act is ‘not to be given,’ implying that timing is a dharmic condition for the rite’s appropriateness and efficacy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following traditional observances, align śrāddha-related giving with prescribed timing and consult a qualified priest/panchāṅga; more broadly, treat ethical and religious duties as requiring both right intention and right context (time, place, capacity).