Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

यस्तु दुर्भिक्षवेलायामन्नाद्यं न प्रयच्छति / म्रियमाणेषु विप्रेषु ब्रह्महा स तु गर्हितः

Transliteration

yastu durbhikṣavelāyāmannādyaṃ na prayacchati / mriyamāṇeṣu vipreṣu brahmahā sa tu garhitaḥ

Translation

Wer aber zur Zeit der Hungersnot keine Speise und keine notwendigen Dinge gibt — wenn Brahmanen im Sterben liegen — der ist verwerflich und wird als Brahmanenmörder (brahmahā) geschmäht.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• दुर्भिक्षवेलायाम्: at the time of famine
• दुर्भिक्षवेलायाम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्भिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + वेला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (दुर्भिक्षस्य वेला); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अन्नाद्यम्: food and necessities
• अन्नाद्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (अन्नं च आद्यं च); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘food and the like/edibles’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Negation (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• प्रयच्छति: gives
• प्रयच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + यम्/यच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• म्रियमाणेषु: among/when (they are) dying
• म्रियमाणेषु: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु) + यमान (शानच्/यमान) → म्रियमाण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; कर्मणि वर्तमानकृदन्त; ‘while (they are) dying’

• विप्रेषु: among Brahmins
• विप्रेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्महा: a slayer of a Brahmin
• ब्रह्महा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + हन् (धातु/प्रातिपदिक ‘killer’)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (ब्रह्मणः हन्ता); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/contrast)

• गर्हितः: is condemned
• गर्हितः: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्ह् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → गर्हित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; ‘censured/condemned’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In famine, withholding food/necessities—especially when brāhmaṇas are perishing—is a grievous sin, condemned as akin to brahmahatyā.

Vedantic Theme: Ahimsā and compassion as dharma; neglect that causes death accrues heavy pāpa; dharma as protection of life and sattva in society.

Application: Prioritize anna-dāna and relief during crises; treat food security as sacred duty; respond quickly when vulnerable communities face starvation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: strong condemnation of life-harming neglect and praise of anna-dāna (general)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

This verse elevates feeding others—especially in famine—to a core duty; refusing aid in such extreme suffering is treated as a grave sin.

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

By defining neglect in crisis as brahma-hatyā-like wrongdoing, it indicates that severe karmic demerit accrues, shaping harsh post-death consequences described elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support food relief and essential aid during crises, prioritize helping the vulnerable, and treat emergency charity as an ethical obligation rather than optional generosity.