Shloka 4

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

पात्रे दत्ते खगश्रेष्ठ अहन्यहनि वर्धते / दातुर्दानमपापाय ज्ञानिनां च प्रतिग्रहः

Transliteration

pātre datte khagaśreṣṭha ahanyahani vardhate / dāturdānamapāpāya jñānināṃ ca pratigrahaḥ

Translation

O Bester der Vögel (Garuḍa), wenn eine Gabe einem würdigen Empfänger dargebracht wird, wächst ihr Verdienst Tag für Tag. Für den Gebenden wird solches Geben sündenfrei, und für die Weisen ist auch das Annehmen ohne Tadel.

Word by Word

• pātre: in a worthy recipient
• pātre: Adhikarana (Locus: in/for a worthy recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• datte: when (a gift is) given
• datte: Adhikarana (Locative absolute condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dā (धातु) → datta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; सति-सप्तमी (when it is given)

• khagaśreṣṭha: O best of birds
• khagaśreṣṭha: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (khagānāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ)

• ahani: day
• ahani: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• ahani: day (after day)
• ahani: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (daily)

• vardhate: increases
• vardhate: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛdh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• dātuḥ: of the giver
• dātuḥ: Sambandha (Genitive: of the giver)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karta (Subject: the gift)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• apāpāya: for freedom from sin
• apāpāya: Sampradana (Purpose/benefit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-pāpa (नञ् + pāpa प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; प्रयोजन (for sinlessness)

• jñāninām: of the wise
• jñāninām: Sambandha (Genitive: of the wise)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• pratigrahaḥ: acceptance (of a gift)
• pratigrahaḥ: Karta (Subject: acceptance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prati-graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna to a worthy recipient grows in merit daily; such giving is non-sinful for the giver, and acceptance by the wise is also blameless—legitimizing pratigraha when dharmically grounded.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva and purity of means; social dharma supporting spiritual life (support of jñānins/learned); karma purified by right recipient and intention.

Application: Give to genuinely worthy persons/causes; if you are a teacher/monastic/learned person, accept support without guilt when it sustains dharma and is received without greed; maintain transparency and humility on both sides.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections on pātra-lakṣaṇa (marks of worthy recipients) and the ethics of pratigraha; Garuda Purana 2.14.3 (tīrtha-pātra-saṃyoga magnifies merit)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse states that charity offered to a fit recipient gains increasing merit day by day and remains free from sin for the giver, making recipient-selection a key dharmic principle in ritual giving.

How does this verse relate to śrāddha and after-death offerings in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, gifts and offerings connected with śrāddha are emphasized as effective when directed to qualified recipients; the verse frames such giving as continuously merit-producing and ethically pure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give intentionally: support genuinely deserving persons/institutions and, when receiving support as a teacher or spiritual practitioner, accept only what is appropriate and ethically obtained.