Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मस्वं प्रणयाद्भुक्तं दहत्यासप्तमं कुलम् / तदेव चौर्यरूपेण दहत्याचन्द्रतारकम्

Transliteration

brahmasvaṃ praṇayādbhuktaṃ dahatyāsaptamaṃ kulam / tadeva cauryarūpeṇa dahatyācandratārakam

Translation

Property belonging to a brāhmaṇa, even when consumed out of affection or goodwill, burns a family up to the seventh generation; and that very same property, when taken as theft, burns the offender as long as the moon and stars endure.

Word by Word

• brahma-svam: Brahmin's property
• brahma-svam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• praṇayāt: out of affection/attachment
• praṇayāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Abl. 5), एकवचन (sg.); हेतौ (cause)

• bhuktam: enjoyed/consumed
• bhuktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhukta (कृदन्त, √bhuj-भुज्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); brahma-svam इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• dahati: burns/destroys
• dahati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dah (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• ā-saptamam: up to the seventh
• ā-saptamam: Visheshaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + saptama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); अव्ययपूर्वक विशेषण (up to the seventh)

• kulam: family/lineage
• kulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• tat: that (same property)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1/2), एकवचन (sg.); अत्र brahma-svam इत्यस्य निर्देशः

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle: 'indeed/just')

• caurya-rūpeṇa: in the form of theft
• caurya-rūpeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caurya (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sg.); प्रकारेण (as/ in the form of)

• dahati: burns/destroys
• dahati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dah (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• ā-candra-tārakam: up to (even) the moon and stars
• ā-candra-tārakam: Visheshaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + candra (प्रातिपदिक) + tāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); द्वन्द्व (candra + tāraka = moon and stars) with ā- meaning 'up to'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmin property (brahmasva) is inviolable: even ‘friendly’ consumption harms up to seven generations; theft brings near-eternal burning (until moon and stars).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as subtle law: intention does not neutralize prohibited objects; adharma has far-reaching saṃskāric consequences across lineage.

Application: Do not appropriate funds/property held in trust or belonging to protected classes/institutions; if wrongly taken, return with repentance and restitution.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.42.14-15 (instability and low births from brahmasva/land theft)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana

FAQs

What is the importance of Brahmasva (Brāhmaṇa property) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Brahmasva as spiritually dangerous to misappropriate: even ‘harmless’ enjoyment of it is said to devastate one’s lineage, highlighting strict dharmic boundaries around sacred/Brāhmaṇa-associated resources.

How does this verse explain karmic consequences in the afterlife context?

By stating that theft of Brahmin property ‘burns’ as long as the moon and stars, the text frames the karma as exceptionally heavy and long-lasting, aligning with the Preta Kanda theme that specific sins lead to severe, extended suffering after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid taking, using, or benefiting from resources that are not rightfully yours—especially those dedicated to religious/charitable purposes—and practice restitution and ethical earning to prevent severe karmic entanglement.