Shloka 14

Bhūmi-dāna, Satya-dharma, and the Non-cancellation of Sin by Charity

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मस्वैश्चसुपुष्टानि वाहनानि बलानि च / युद्धकाले विशीर्यन्ते सैकताः सेतवो यथा

Transliteration

brahmasvaiścasupuṣṭāni vāhanāni balāni ca / yuddhakāle viśīryante saikatāḥ setavo yathā

Translation

Selbst wohlgenährte Reittiere und starke Heere, gewonnen durch Brahmanenbesitz (unrechtmäßig genommen), zerfallen zur Zeit der Schlacht—wie Dämme aus Sand, die zusammenbrechen.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मस्वैः: by/with Brahmin-property (ill-gotten sacred property)
• ब्रह्मस्वैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः स्वम् = property of a Brahmin)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपत्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• सुपुष्टानि: well-nourished
• सुपुष्टानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + पुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग ‘सु’ (well) + ‘पुष्ट’ (nourished)

• वाहनानि: vehicles, mounts
• वाहनानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• बलानि: strengths, forces
• बलानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपत्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• युद्धकाले: at the time of battle
• युद्धकाले: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (युद्धस्य कालः)

• विशीर्यन्ते: crumble, fall apart
• विशीर्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शीॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः—‘fall apart, crumble’

• सैकताः: sandbanks, sandy (structures)
• सैकताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैकत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सेतवः: bridges, embankments
• सेतवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपत्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान (as, like)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Wealth and power derived from brahmasva (unlawfully taken from brāhmaṇas) are inherently unstable and fail at the critical moment.

Vedantic Theme: Adharma produces tamasic outcomes; apparent worldly strength lacks śakti when rooted in injustice—karma ripens as collapse.

Application: Avoid benefiting from exploitation or sacred-trust violations; build institutions and success on ethical means, or they will fail under stress.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: battlefield

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.42.15-16 (land theft and brahmasva consequences)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins

FAQs

What is the importance of brahmasva (Brahmin property) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats brahmasva as a dangerously tainted form of wealth: even if it produces visible prosperity (strong mounts and armies), it lacks stability and collapses when true testing comes, showing the karmic fragility of unrighteous gain.

How does this verse explain karmic results in practical life?

It presents a clear karmic principle: resources built on adharma may appear powerful, but at the crucial moment they fail—like sand embankments—indicating that unethical acquisition undermines long-term protection and success.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid benefiting from exploitation or misappropriation of sacred/community resources; seek wealth through dharmic means and support rightful recipients through honest giving, so one’s prosperity remains stable under pressure.