Shloka 8

Himavat Ratna-utpatti, Bhīṣma-maṇi Praśaṃsā, and Pitṛ-tarpaṇa Phala

Devanagari script

मूल्यं प्रकल्प्यमेषां विबुधवरैर्दैशकालविज्ञानात् / दूरे भूतानां बहु किञ्चिन्निकटप्रसूतानाम्

Transliteration

mūlyaṃ prakalpyameṣāṃ vibudhavarairdaiśakālavijñānāt / dūre bhūtānāṃ bahu kiñcinnikaṭaprasūtānām

Translation

Their value should be assessed by the best of the wise, with knowledge of place and time: what is brought from far away is of great worth, while what is produced nearby is worth only a little.

Word by Word

• मूल्यम्: value, price
• मूल्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; (here: कर्म/विधेय-नाम)

• प्रकल्प्यम्: to be determined/assessed
• प्रकल्प्यम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √कॢप् (धातु) → प्रकल्प्य (कृदन्त, भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: कृदन्त (भाव्य/कर्तव्य-प्रत्यय -य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थः ‘should be determined’

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• विबुधवरैः: by the best of the wise
• विबुधवरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुध + वर (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—विबुधानां वराः (श्रेष्ठाः)

• दैशकालविज्ञानात्: from knowledge of place and time
• दैशकालविज्ञानात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैश + काल + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक-त्रय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; समासः—देशस्य कालस्य च विज्ञानम्

• दूरे: far away
• दूरे: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण-अर्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)

• भूतानाम्: of those that have occurred/been (past)
• भूतानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• बहु: much, many
• बहु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक-विशेषण

• किञ्चित्: some, a little
• किञ्चित्: Visheshya (Qualified/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक-सर्वनाम

• निकटप्रसूतानाम्: of those produced recently/nearby
• निकटप्रसूतानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निकट + प्रसूत (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भानुसार), षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समासः—निकटे प्रसूताः (recently produced/near-born)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Desha-kala-vijnana: proper assessment depends on place and time; scarcity/distance increases value.

Vedantic Theme: Yukti (reasoned discernment) and vyavahara (practical conduct) guided by context rather than absolutism.

Application: In charity, trade, and ritual procurement, evaluate offerings/materials by availability, distance, and timing; avoid rigid pricing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dana-vyavahara sections on proper gifting/valuation (contextual pricing)

FAQs

What is the importance of the deśa-kāla (place–time) principle in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that dharmic decisions—such as valuing gifts or offerings—must be made contextually, using awareness of place and time rather than a fixed, one-size rule.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana practices like dāna (charity) and ritual offerings?

It implies that the worth of ritual items or donations depends on availability and effort: items brought from far away justly carry greater value than those easily obtained locally.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice fairness and contextual ethics: value contributions by effort, scarcity, and circumstance, and avoid rigid judgments when costs differ by location and time.