Shloka 19

Dāna-vidhi: Pātra-nirṇaya, Go-dāna-mahima, and Rules of Acceptance

Devanagari script

कुशाः शाकं पयो गन्धाः प्रत्याख्येया न वारि च / अयचिताहृतं ग्राह्यमपि दुष्कृतकर्मणः

Transliteration

kuśāḥ śākaṃ payo gandhāḥ pratyākhyeyā na vāri ca / ayacitāhṛtaṃ grāhyamapi duṣkṛtakarmaṇaḥ

Translation

Kuśa-Gras, Gemüse, Milch und Wohlgerüche soll man nicht zurückweisen — ebenso wenig Wasser. Selbst von einem, der üble Taten begangen hat, ist anzunehmen, was ungebeten gebracht wird.

Word by Word

• कुशाः: kuśa grasses
• कुशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• शाकम्: vegetables/greens
• शाकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• गन्धाः: fragrances, perfumes
• गन्धाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• प्रत्याख्येयाः: to be refused
• प्रत्याख्येयाः: Vidhi (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति + आख्येय (√ख्या, ण्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; प्रत्याख्येय = ‘to be refused’ (gerundive sense)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• वारि: water
• वारि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अयचिताहृतम्: brought without being asked for
• अयचिताहृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयचित + आहृत (√हृ, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘unasked (ayācita) brought’

• ग्राह्यम्: to be accepted
• ग्राह्यम्: Vidhi (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु) + ण्यत् (कृत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/समुच्चयार्थ (particle: even/also)

• दुष्कृतकर्मणः: of one whose deeds are evil
• दुष्कृतकर्मणः: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्कृत + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Do not refuse basic ritual/pure items; accept unsolicited offerings even from a doer of evil deeds.

Vedantic Theme: Seeing instruments of dharma as impersonal (nimitta) and maintaining purity through intention and right use rather than social contempt.

Application: Avoid needless rejection of simple necessities; receive help offered freely, and redirect it toward dharmic use without endorsing wrongdoing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana adjacent acceptance rules (1.98.18-20) forming a pratigraha-vidhi unit

FAQs

What is the importance of not refusing water, kuśa, milk, and similar items in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats them as universally pure and ritually supportive items; refusing them is discouraged because they sustain dharmic rites and basic auspiciousness.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and post-death rites?

It supports the continuity of śrāddha-type observances by emphasizing acceptance of essential ritual materials, which are considered beneficial for rites connected with the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not dismiss simple, necessary, and wholesome offerings (especially water and basic ritual supports), and accept unsolicited help when it enables good conduct—without over-focusing on the giver’s flaws.