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Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 13

Bhūmi-dāna, Satya-dharma, and the Non-cancellation of Sin by Charity

Devanagari script

न तद्भवति वेदेषु यज्ञे सुबहुदक्षिणे / यत्पुण्यं दुर्बले त्रस्ते ब्राह्मणे परिरक्षिते

Transliteration

na tadbhavati vedeṣu yajñe subahudakṣiṇe / yatpuṇyaṃ durbale traste brāhmaṇe parirakṣite

Translation

ذلك الثواب لا ينشأ من الفيدا ولا من يَجْنَةٍ تُغدَق فيها الدكشِنا؛ بل مثل الثواب الذي يُنال بحماية براهمنٍ ضعيفٍ مرتعدٍ من الخوف.

Word by Word
नnot
न:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपत्ति)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, निषेध
तत्that (merit)
तत्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
भवतिis, occurs
भवति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
वेदेषुin the Vedas (i.e., Vedic rites)
वेदेषु:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootवेद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन
यज्ञेin a sacrifice
यज्ञे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootयज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
सुबहुदक्षिणेwith very many fees (dakṣiṇās)
सुबहुदक्षिणे:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसु + बहु + दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुबहु = very many) + ‘दक्षिणा’सम्बन्धि; अर्थः ‘बहुदक्षिणः’
यत्which
यत्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative)
पुण्यम्merit
पुण्यम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
दुर्बलेin/for a weak (person)
दुर्बले:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर्बल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
त्रस्तेin/for a frightened (person)
त्रस्ते:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootत्रस्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (frightened)
ब्राह्मणेin/for a Brahmin
ब्राह्मणे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
परिरक्षितेwhen protected
परिरक्षिते:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeVerb
Rootपरि-रक्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘when protected’
Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ahimsa and rakṣaṇa (protection) of the weak—especially a frightened brāhmaṇa—yields merit surpassing ritual and scholarship.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: inner dharma and compassionate action outweigh mere external ritualism; sattvic intention as the true purifier.

Application: Prioritize safeguarding vulnerable persons, offering refuge, legal/physical protection, and support; treat service and protection as a high spiritual act beyond performative religiosity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (dāna-dharma / brāhmaṇa-rakṣaṇa and brahmasva-nindā passages in the same adhyāya)

Characters & Entities
B
Brahmana
V
Vedas
Y
Yajna
D
Dakshina

FAQs

This verse states that safeguarding a weak and frightened brāhmaṇa generates greater merit than even Vedic learning or richly endowed sacrifices, highlighting compassion and protection as core dharma.

In the Preta Kanda’s ethical framework, high-impact righteous acts (like protecting the vulnerable) accumulate puṇya that supports the soul’s favorable journey after death, outweighing merely formal ritual merit.

Prioritize real-world protection and support of vulnerable people—especially those seeking refuge or facing fear—over performative religiosity; dharma is measured by safeguarding life and dignity.

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