Shloka 17

Dāna-dharma: Threefold Classification, Right Recipients, Auspicious Timing, and Fruits of Gifts

Devanagari script

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो नरो भवति निश्चितम् / यो हि यां देवतामिच्छेत्समाराधयितुं नरः

Transliteration

sarvapāpavinirmukto naro bhavati niścitam / yo hi yāṃ devatāmicchetsamārādhayituṃ naraḥ

Translation

حقًّا يصير الإنسان متحرّرًا من جميع الخطايا—وهذا يقين—حين يرغب أن يُرضي على الوجه الصحيح الإلهَ الذي يريد عبادته.

Word by Word

• सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः: freed from all sins
• सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः: Karta-anvayi (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + विनिर्मुक्त (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां पापानां विनिर्मुक्तः)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• निश्चितम्: certainly
• निश्चितम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निश्चित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative/neuter)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle; emphasis/causal)

• याम्: whichever/that (f.)
• याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• देवताम्: deity
• देवताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• इच्छेत्: should desire
• इच्छेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• समाराधयितुम्: to worship/propitiate
• समाराधयितुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + राध् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्तम् (Infinitive), ‘to propitiate/worship’

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper propitiation (samarādhana) of the desired deity, grounded in intent and method, results in freedom from sins.

Vedantic Theme: Efficacy of śraddhā and upāsanā as mind-purifiers; unity of the divine approached through chosen forms (iṣṭa) within a dharmic framework.

Application: Choose a consistent devotional practice (mantra, pūjā, vrata) aligned with tradition; perform with regularity, ethical conduct, and correct procedure rather than scattered experimentation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: general doctrinal statement

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring emphasis that śraddhā-yukta worship and dāna reduce pāpa

Characters & Entities

• Devatā (chosen deity)

FAQs

What is the importance of deity propitiation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that sincere and proper worship of one’s chosen deity is a direct means to become freed from sins, emphasizing devotion as a purifier.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By highlighting sin-removal through worship, it implies that purification of karma supports a smoother spiritual course, reducing obstacles that arise from pāpa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose a form of the Divine you resonate with, worship consistently with ethical conduct and sincerity, and treat devotion as a discipline for inner purification.