Shloka 8

Devanagari script

अदत्तस्यानुपादानं दानमध्ययनं जपः / विद्या वित्तं तपः शौचं कुले जन्म त्वरोगिता

Transliteration

adattasyānupādānaṃ dānamadhyayanaṃ japaḥ / vidyā vittaṃ tapaḥ śaucaṃ kule janma tvarogitā

Translation

Not taking what has not been given; dāna (charity); study of sacred teaching; japa, the repetition of mantra; learning; wealth; tapas (austerity); purity; birth in a good family; and freedom from illness—these are counted as virtues and auspicious endowments.

Word by Word

• अदत्तस्य: of what is not given
• अदत्तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + दत्त (कृदन्त; दा-धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भानुसार), षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘अदत्त’ = ‘not given’

• अनुपादानम्: non-acceptance (not taking)
• अनुपादानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु + उप + आ + दा (धातु) → उपादान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘अनुपादान’ = ‘non-acceptance/taking’

• दानम्: giving/charity
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अध्ययनम्: study
• अध्ययनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि + इ (धातु) → अध्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जपः: recitation (japa)
• जपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विद्या: knowledge/learning
• विद्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वित्तम्: wealth
• वित्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शौचम्: purity/cleanliness
• शौचम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कुले: in (a good) family
• कुले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• जन्म: birth
• जन्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्वरोगिता: promptness/quickness (reading uncertain)
• त्वरोगिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + ओगिता/औगित्य (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासार्थः—‘त्वरया (शीघ्रतया) ओगिता/औगित्यं’ (पाठदुर्लभः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Virtues include non-appropriation (adattasyānupādāna), charity, study, japa, learning, wealth used rightly, austerity, purity, good birth, and health.

Vedantic Theme: Ethical and mental purification (śauca, tapaḥ, japa) as groundwork for steadiness of mind; dharmic prosperity (artha) subordinated to virtue.

Application: Practice strict non-stealing (including subtle forms), maintain daily svādhyāya and japa, keep personal/ritual cleanliness, cultivate disciplined living, and treat health as a dharmic support through moderation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis on dāna, śauca, svādhyāya as merit-producing virtues; Garuda Purana: lists of sadguṇas in dharma sections

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of not taking what is not given in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places non-appropriation (adattasyānupādāna) among key virtues, indicating that restraint from theft/undue taking is foundational to dharma and auspicious living.

How does this verse relate to karma and outcomes described in the Garuda Purana?

By listing charity, study, japa, purity, and austerity as virtues, it implies these actions cultivate positive karma and support auspicious life-conditions (like good health and good birth), themes repeatedly tied to karmic results in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice honest earning, give regularly (even small), maintain daily study/prayer or japa, keep personal and ritual cleanliness, and adopt disciplined habits—these align one’s life with dharmic conduct.