Shloka 98

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

राजभ्यो विंशतिं दत्त्वा पशुस्वर्णादिकं शतम् / पादेनास्य च यावक्यं कुर्यात्संचयमात्मवान्

Transliteration

rājabhyo viṃśatiṃ dattvā paśusvarṇādikaṃ śatam / pādenāsya ca yāvakyaṃ kuryātsaṃcayamātmavān

Translation

بعد أن يُعطي للملوك عشرين (كخراجٍ أو حقٍّ واجب)، ويُعطي مئةً من الأبقار والذهب ونحوها، فعلى المرء المتحكّم بنفسه أن يدّخر لنفسه، فيجعل ربع دخله مدّخرًا بقدر استطاعته.

Word by Word

• राजभ्यः: to kings; to rulers
• राजभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन

• विंशतिम्: twenty
• विंशतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• पशुस्वर्णादिकम्: cattle, gold, and the like
• पशुस्वर्णादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; -आदिक (etc.) समाहारार्थे

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• पादेन: by a quarter; with one-fourth (share)
• पादेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अस्य: of this; his
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• यावक्यम्: barley (or barley-gruel)
• यावक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यावक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do; should make
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• संचयम्: accumulation; saving; store
• संचयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संचय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आत्मवान्: self-controlled; prudent
• आत्मवान्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; गुणवाचक विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Balanced allocation: meet royal dues and prescribed giving, then maintain prudent savings proportionate to capacity.

Vedantic Theme: Sattvic restraint (dama) and non-excess: wealth as a tool for dharma, not an identity.

Application: Budgeting principle: fulfill civic obligations (tax/dues), perform giving, and reserve a quarter as contingency savings within one’s means.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: kingdom/administrative sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (artha-dharma guidance in the same adhyaya sequence on livelihood and allocation)

Characters & Entities

• Raja (king/ruler)

FAQs

What is the importance of allocating wealth (tax, charity, savings) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames wealth as something to be distributed responsibly—meeting civic obligations to rulers, giving in valuable forms like cattle and gold, and also reserving a prudent portion as savings—so a householder lives in balance and dharma.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on karma and dharma?

By prescribing orderly giving and disciplined accumulation, it supports the dharmic life where resources are earned and used ethically; such regulated conduct is treated as karma that sustains social order and personal stability.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Pay lawful dues, practice structured giving, and keep a consistent savings portion (the verse signals a “one-quarter” discipline) according to your capacity, avoiding both hoarding and negligence.