Shloka 42

Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and Dāna as the Soul’s True Companion on the Path to Yama

Devanagari script

एवं समाचारयुतो नरो ऽपि वापीं सकूपां सजलं तडागम् / प्रपाशुभं हृद्गृहदेवमन्दिरं कृतं नरेणैव स धर्मौत्तमः

Transliteration

evaṃ samācārayuto naro 'pi vāpīṃ sakūpāṃ sajalaṃ taḍāgam / prapāśubhaṃ hṛdgṛhadevamandiraṃ kṛtaṃ nareṇaiva sa dharmauttamaḥ

Translation

So ist selbst ein gewöhnlicher Mensch—wenn er mit rechtem Wandel ausgestattet ist—, der eigenhändig einen gut ausgekleideten Brunnen, einen wassergefüllten Teich, eine heilsame prapā zur Spende von Trinkwasser, einen See, ein Hausschrein und einen Tempel der Gottheit errichtet hat, wahrlich ein Mensch von höchster Dharma.

Word by Word

• evaṃ: thus
• evaṃ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति/प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus’)

• samācāra-yutaḥ: endowed with proper conduct
• samācāra-yutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ‘naraḥ’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samācāra (प्रातिपदिक) + yuta (कृदन्त; √yuj/युज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘samācāreṇa yutaḥ’ = endowed with good conduct)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even’)

• vāpīm: a well/pond (vāpī)
• vāpīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāpī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• sa-kūpām: with a well
• sa-kūpām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ‘vāpīm’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + kūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (‘kūpena saha’ = with a well)

• sa-jalam: with water
• sa-jalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ‘taḍāgam’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (‘jalena saha’ = with water)

• taḍāgam: a tank/pond
• taḍāgam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taḍāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• prapā-śubham: an auspicious drinking-water place
• prapā-śubham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prapā (प्रातिपदिक) + śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘śubhā prapā’ = auspicious water-shed/drinking place)

• hṛt-gṛha-deva-mandiram: a temple (mandira) of the deity (in the heart/home)
• hṛt-gṛha-deva-mandiram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + mandira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative chain): ‘hṛdayasya gṛham’ + ‘devasya mandiram’ (intended: temple of the deity in one’s heart/home)

• kṛtam: made/constructed
• kṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘made/done’ (elliptic with objects listed)

• nareṇa: by a man
• nareṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

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

• dharma-uttamaḥ: supremely righteous / best in dharma
• dharma-uttamaḥ: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/Predicate of ‘saḥ’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘uttamaḥ dharmaḥ’/‘dharme uttamaḥ’) used predicatively

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sadācāra plus loka-hita (public welfare) works—water resources and sacred buildings—constitute uttama-dharma even for a non-elite person.

Vedantic Theme: Sevā as karma-yoga: selfless action purifying the doer; dharma expressed as sustaining life (jala) and sustaining devotion (deva-mandira).

Application: Invest in public utilities (clean water, rest areas) and maintain sacred/community spaces; do tangible service as a primary dharmic practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: settlement/village

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dāna and puṇya-kṣetra discussions praising wells, tanks, and temples (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of building wells, ponds, and prapā (water-rest houses) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats water-provision and traveler-support as high dharma: creating accessible water sources and rest facilities is counted as a superior meritorious act when done with right conduct.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader focus on afterlife and merit?

In the Preta Kanda, merit (puṇya) is repeatedly linked to actions that reduce suffering and support dharma; public welfare works like water sources and temples are presented as strong supports for auspicious destiny beyond death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support clean drinking-water access, maintain community water bodies, fund rest facilities, and sustain places of worship—doing so ethically and consistently as an expression of dharma.