Shloka 94

Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

महादेवीं पूजयस्वाद्य भक्त्या सद्वैष्णवानां मा ददस्वाप्यथान्नम् / सद्वैष्णवानां यदि वान्नं ददासि भाग्यं च ते पश्यतो नाशमेति

Transliteration

mahādevīṃ pūjayasvādya bhaktyā sadvaiṣṇavānāṃ mā dadasvāpyathānnam / sadvaiṣṇavānāṃ yadi vānnaṃ dadāsi bhāgyaṃ ca te paśyato nāśameti

Translation

Verehre heute die Große Göttin (Mahādevī) in hingebungsvoller Bhakti; gib keine Speise an heuchlerische, nur dem Namen nach Vaiṣṇavas. Wenn du solchen falschen Vaiṣṇavas Nahrung gibst, wird dein Glück vor deinen Augen zugrunde gehen.

Word by Word

• महा-देवीम्: Mahādevī
• महा-देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूजयस्व: worship
• पूजयस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अद्य: today; now
• अद्य: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time: today/now)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सत्-वैष्णवानाम्: of the true Vaiṣṇavas
• सत्-वैष्णवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धे (genitive: of the true Vaiṣṇavas)

• मा: do not
• मा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक (prohibitive particle: do not)

• ददस्व: give
• ददस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; निषेधेन सह (prohibition)

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-शब्दः (even/also)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सत्-वैष्णवानाम्: of the true Vaiṣṇavas
• सत्-वैष्णवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional particle: if)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ददासि: you give
• ददासि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भाग्यम्: fortune
• भाग्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे (your)

• पश्यतः: while you are watching
• पश्यतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्यत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √दृश्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle) used as genitive absolute sense: 'while (you) are seeing'

• नाशम्: destruction; loss
• नाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एति: goes; comes to; reaches
• एति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dana must be guided by viveka (discernment); supporting hypocrisy under the guise of devotion undermines one’s auspicious merit and prosperity.

Vedantic Theme: Ethics of intention and recipient-worthiness (patra) in karma; dharma protected by discrimination between genuine and counterfeit religiosity.

Application: Give charity thoughtfully—prioritize integrity, genuine need, and authentic practice; avoid enabling fraud or performative piety.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.28 (instructions on worship, dana, and consequences for auspicious fortune)

Characters & Entities

• Mahadevi
• Vaishnavas

FAQs

What is the importance of choosing the right recipient for anna-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that feeding unworthy or hypocritical religious claimants can destroy one’s bhāgya (fortune/merit), so discernment in charity is treated as part of dharma.

How does this verse relate to merit (puṇya) and spiritual outcomes?

It presents charity as spiritually consequential: when offered to the unworthy, the intended puṇya is said to reverse into visible loss of auspiciousness, emphasizing ethical qualification alongside ritual action.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give food and donations thoughtfully—support genuine service, integrity, and dharmic conduct; avoid enabling hypocrisy, and keep devotion (bhakti) central to your religious acts.