Shloka 29

Devanagari script

पितृतः को ऽपि रूपाढ्यो गुणज्ञो दानतत्परः / सदृशः को ऽपि लोके ऽस्मिन्न भूतो न भविष्यति

Transliteration

pitṛtaḥ ko 'pi rūpāḍhyo guṇajño dānatatparaḥ / sadṛśaḥ ko 'pi loke 'sminna bhūto na bhaviṣyati

Translation

From the paternal line there may arise one who is fair of form, discerning of virtues, and devoted to charity; yet in this world none is truly comparable—none has been, and none will be.

Word by Word

• पितृतः: from the father
• पितृतः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/तसिल्-अर्थे), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् ‘-तः’ (from)

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्न/अनिश्चितार्थे

• अपि: even/any
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); ‘even/also/any’

• रूपाढ्यः: rich in beauty
• रूपाढ्यः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रूपेण आढ्यः)

• गुणज्ञः: knower of virtues
• गुणज्ञः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुणान् जानाति)

• दानतत्परः: devoted to giving
• दानतत्परः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दाने तत्परः)

• सदृशः: similar/equal
• सदृशः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: even/any
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सामान्य, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; देइक्तिक ‘this’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• भूतः: has been (occurred)
• भूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) → भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: भूत (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकालिक-भावे ‘having been/occurred’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्काल), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Noble qualities (rūpa, guṇa-jñāna, dāna) may appear in a paternal line, yet each person’s dharmic configuration is singular and not truly replicable.

Vedantic Theme: Svabhāva-bheda (individual disposition) within saṃsāra; recognition of uniqueness without clinging to comparison.

Application: Cultivate dāna and discernment of virtues without measuring oneself or others by lineage-based expectations; honor good qualities when they appear.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.25 (context: putra/lineage and śrāddha-related discussion)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of charity (dāna) in Garuda Purana?

This verse praises a person who is devoted to charity and knows virtue, implying that dāna is a hallmark of dharmic excellence valued in the Preta Kanda’s ethical instruction.

How does this verse relate to ancestors (Pitris) and lineage?

It references the paternal line (pitṛtaḥ), acknowledging inherited social identity, yet emphasizes that true worth is not guaranteed by lineage—virtue and generosity are decisive.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate discernment of good qualities and practice regular giving; do not rely on family status alone—build a life of dharma through conduct.