Shloka 16
The Destiny of Those Who Die Through Fasting & the Procedure of Udakumbha-dāna
विद्यावृत्तवते देयं मूर्खे तन्न कदाचन / समर्थो वेदवृत्ताढ्यस्तारणे तरणे ऽपि च
vidyāvṛttavate deyaṃ mūrkhe tanna kadācana / samartho vedavṛttāḍhyastāraṇe taraṇe 'pi ca
Charity should be given to one who is learned and of good conduct, never to a fool. The capable person—rich in Vedic knowledge and right discipline—becomes a true support, both in helping one cross over and in the very act of crossing.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Dāna should go to the learned and well-conducted, not to the foolish; the competent Veda-grounded person becomes a ‘tāraṇa’—aid in crossing and the means of crossing.
Vedantic Theme: Adhikāri-bheda and saṅga: association with sattvic, śāstra-rooted persons supports liberation-oriented progress; karma purified by right recipient and intention.
Application: Practice discernment: support competent, ethical teachers/service agents; avoid enabling harmful incompetence; treat giving as partnership in uplift.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: instructional discourse
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.37.14–15 (dāna procedure and recipient qualification); Garuda Purana 2.38.1–2 (transition to mokṣa/svarga questions; ‘crossing over’ motif)
FAQs
This verse states that charity bears proper fruit when given to someone learned and of good conduct; giving to the ignorant is discouraged because it does not serve dharma or produce reliable spiritual benefit.
By saying the capable, Veda-grounded person is helpful in both “causing crossing” and “crossing,” the verse implies that guidance rooted in scripture and right conduct supports one’s spiritual progress—especially relevant to śrāddha contexts where proper rites and qualified officiants matter.
Give thoughtfully: support teachers, caregivers, and institutions that embody knowledge and ethical discipline, and avoid donations that enable negligence, exploitation, or harmful ignorance.