Shloka 52

Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-Release Gift): Procedure, Merit, and Narratives on Dharma, Karma, and Liberation

Devanagari script

पात्रदानपरो नित्यमातिथेयाग्निसेवकः / गार्हस्थ्यं विधिवच्चक्रे भार्यया सत्यमेधया

Transliteration

pātradānaparo nityamātitheyāgnisevakaḥ / gārhasthyaṃ vidhivaccakre bhāryayā satyamedhayā

Translation

كان مواظبًا على الصدقة لأهل الاستحقاق، ملازمًا لخدمة الضيف ورعاية نار البيت المقدّسة؛ فأقام واجبات حياة الغِرْهَسْتَه على وفق الشريعة، مع زوجته ذات الفهم الصادق.

Word by Word

• पात्रदानपरः: devoted to giving (charity) to worthy recipients
• पात्रदानपरः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पात्र + दान + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुष: पात्रदानं प्रति परः (devoted to giving to worthy recipients)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यम् (अव्यय)
• Form: नित्यत्ववाचक अव्यय (adverb: always)

• आतिथेयाग्निसेवकः: servant of guests and the sacred fire
• आतिथेयाग्निसेवकः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतिथेय + अग्नि + सेवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: आतिथेयस्य च अग्नेः च सेवकः (one who serves guests and the sacred fire)

• गार्हस्थ्यम्: householder life; gṛhastha-āśrama
• गार्हस्थ्यम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गार्हस्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• विधिवत्: according to prescribed rule
• विधिवत्: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb: according to rule)

• चक्रे: performed; undertook
• चक्रे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); आत्मनेपद

• भार्यया: with (his) wife
• भार्यया: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• सत्यमेधया: with (a wife) of true wisdom
• सत्यमेधया: Sahakari (Qualifier of accompaniment/सहकारी-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + मेधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारय: सत्यैव मेधा यस्याः (having true intelligence); भार्याया विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Gṛhastha-dharma: pātra-dāna (discerning charity), atithi-sevā (guest as sacred), agni-sevā (daily sacred duty), and spouse as sahadharmiṇī in righteous life.

Vedantic Theme: Yajña-bhāva in action: transforming ordinary duties into offerings; sattva cultivation through regulated living and generosity.

Application: Give thoughtfully to worthy causes, practice hospitality, maintain daily spiritual discipline (prayer/ritual), and build a truthful partnership that supports ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: gṛhastha home with agnihotra/household fire altar

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.51 (vaiśya conduct)

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of pātra-dāna (giving to a worthy recipient) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that charity becomes especially meritorious when offered to a proper recipient (pātra), forming a key part of righteous household life that accrues spiritual merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing disciplined household dharma—charity, hospitality, and sacred-fire service—the verse points to the kind of merit-based living that the Garuda Purana connects with favorable post-death outcomes and reduced suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give regularly to genuinely deserving causes/people, practice hospitality, and keep a daily spiritual discipline (prayer/ritual/ethical routine) as a structured way to live dharmically.