Shloka 9

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा चरतां धर्मं सह या दीयते ऽर्थिने / स कायः पावयेत्तज्जः षड्वंश्यानात्मना सह

Transliteration

ityuktvā caratāṃ dharmaṃ saha yā dīyate 'rthine / sa kāyaḥ pāvayettajjaḥ ṣaḍvaṃśyānātmanā saha

Translation

وبعد أن أوصى هكذا بسلوك الدَّرما، فكلُّ ما يُعطى معًا صدقةً لطالبٍ مستحقّ—بتلك الفعلة يُطهِّر المرءُ وجودَه المتجسِّد، ومع نفسه يُطهِّر ستَّةَ فروعٍ من سلالته.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund)

• चरताम्: (you) should practice/observe
• चरताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, द्विवचनम्/बहुवचनम् (पाठानुसारं ‘you (two/you all) should practice’)

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteous conduct
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (2nd acc. sg.)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहकारक-अव्ययम् (preposition-like indeclinable ‘with’)

• या: which (woman)
• या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (1st nom. sg.); सम्बन्धिनी/विशेष्य-निर्देशः

• दीयते: is given
• दीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)

• अर्थिने: to the seeker/suitor
• अर्थिने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-एकवचनम् (4th dat. sg.)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (1st nom. sg.)

• कायः: the body/person
• कायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (1st nom. sg.)

• पावयेत्: should purify
• पावयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• तत्-जः: one born of her/that union
• तत्-जः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (1st nom. sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः ‘तस्मात् जातः’

• षड्वंश्यान्: six generations/descendants
• षड्वंश्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या) + वंश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-बहुवचनम् (2nd acc. pl.); द्विगुसमासः ‘षड् वंश्याः’

• आत्मना: by/with oneself
• आत्मना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-एकवचनम् (3rd instr. sg.)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहकारक-अव्ययम् (with)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna given rightly (to a worthy recipient, with proper intent) purifies the embodied self and extends merit to family lines.

Vedantic Theme: Purification of antaḥkaraṇa through sattvic karma; merit as a support for spiritual readiness (adhikāritva).

Application: Give with discernment (pātra-śuddhi), humility, and consistency; treat charity as self-purification rather than transaction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: social-ritual setting (dāna to an arthin)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95 (dāna and dharma context around varna/rites)

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents dāna as a dharmic act that purifies the giver and extends its merit to multiple generations of the family line.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to karma?

It links righteous action (giving to a deserving seeker) with purification and merit, implying that such karma supports spiritual well-being beyond the individual, affecting ancestral lines.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional charity to genuinely deserving recipients, treating giving as a disciplined part of dharma rather than a casual or showy act.