Shloka 13

Bhūmi-dāna, Satya-dharma, and the Non-cancellation of Sin by Charity

Devanagari script

न तद्भवति वेदेषु यज्ञे सुबहुदक्षिणे / यत्पुण्यं दुर्बले त्रस्ते ब्राह्मणे परिरक्षिते

Transliteration

na tadbhavati vedeṣu yajñe subahudakṣiṇe / yatpuṇyaṃ durbale traste brāhmaṇe parirakṣite

Translation

That merit does not arise from the Vedas, nor from a sacrifice endowed with abundant dakṣiṇā; it is the merit gained by protecting a weak and terrified brāhmaṇa.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपत्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध

• तत्: that (merit)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भवति: is, occurs
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वेदेषु: in the Vedas (i.e., Vedic rites)
• वेदेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• यज्ञे: in a sacrifice
• यज्ञे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सुबहुदक्षिणे: with very many fees (dakṣiṇās)
• सुबहुदक्षिणे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + बहु + दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुबहु = very many) + ‘दक्षिणा’सम्बन्धि; अर्थः ‘बहुदक्षिणः’

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative)

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दुर्बले: in/for a weak (person)
• दुर्बले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• त्रस्ते: in/for a frightened (person)
• त्रस्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रस्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (frightened)

• ब्राह्मणे: in/for a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• परिरक्षिते: when protected
• परिरक्षिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-रक्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘when protected’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ahimsa and rakṣaṇa (protection) of the weak—especially a frightened brāhmaṇa—yields merit surpassing ritual and scholarship.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: inner dharma and compassionate action outweigh mere external ritualism; sattvic intention as the true purifier.

Application: Prioritize safeguarding vulnerable persons, offering refuge, legal/physical protection, and support; treat service and protection as a high spiritual act beyond performative religiosity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (dāna-dharma / brāhmaṇa-rakṣaṇa and brahmasva-nindā passages in the same adhyāya)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana
• Vedas
• Yajna
• Dakshina

FAQs

What is the importance of protecting the weak in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that safeguarding a weak and frightened brāhmaṇa generates greater merit than even Vedic learning or richly endowed sacrifices, highlighting compassion and protection as core dharma.

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

In the Preta Kanda’s ethical framework, high-impact righteous acts (like protecting the vulnerable) accumulate puṇya that supports the soul’s favorable journey after death, outweighing merely formal ritual merit.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Prioritize real-world protection and support of vulnerable people—especially those seeking refuge or facing fear—over performative religiosity; dharma is measured by safeguarding life and dignity.