Shloka 145

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

होमो दैवी बलिर्भौतो न यज्ञो ऽतिथिपूजनम् / गवा गोष्ठे दशगुणं अग्न्यगारे शताधिकम्

Transliteration

homo daivī balirbhauto na yajño 'tithipūjanam / gavā goṣṭhe daśaguṇaṃ agnyagāre śatādhikam

Translation

Le homa est une offrande aux dieux; le bali est une offrande aux êtres. L’accueil et l’honneur rendus à l’hôte ne doivent pas être tenus pour un simple sacrifice. Une vache donnée en aumône porte un mérite dix fois plus grand si elle est offerte à l’étable, et plus de cent fois si elle est offerte dans l’agni-gāra, la demeure du feu sacré.

Word by Word

• होमः: homa (fire-offering)
• होमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• दैवी: divine
• दैवी: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैवी (प्रातिपदिक; देवी/दैव-सम्बन्धी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (होमः इत्यस्य विधेयविशेषणरूपेण)

• बलिः: bali (offering)
• बलिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• भौतः: elemental/for beings (bhūta-related)
• भौतः: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भौत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (बलिः इत्यस्य)

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

• यज्ञः: yajña (sacrifice)
• यज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अतिथिपूजनम्: (is) worship/honoring of guests
• अतिथिपूजनम्: Kriya (Equative predicate/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अतिथेः पूजनम्)

• गवा: by/with a cow (i.e., in relation to cows)
• गवा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; वैदिक/छान्दस रूप ‘गवा’ (instrumental of गो)

• गोष्ठे: in the cowshed
• गोष्ठे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• दशगुणम्: tenfold
• दशगुणम्: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (दश गुणाः यस्य)

• अग्न्यगारे: in the fire-house/altar-room
• अग्न्यगारे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + आगार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अग्नेः आगारम्)

• शताधिकम्: more than a hundredfold
• शताधिकम्: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शतात् अधिकम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Distinguish homa (devatā-offering) and bali (bhūta-offering); elevate atithi-pūjana beyond a ‘mere’ sacrifice; teach place-based merit multiplication for go-dāna.

Vedantic Theme: Ethics of giving and honoring guests as worship of Nārāyaṇa-in-the-other; karma accrues with intention, recipient, and sacred context.

Application: Practice atithi-sevā as a primary duty; perform offerings with correct categories (homa vs bali); when giving, choose dharmic contexts (support shelters, temples, Vedic institutions) with pure intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/charity sites

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213 (dāna and yajña taxonomy in household dharma)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Atithi (guest)
• Bhutas

FAQs

What is the importance of dana (charity) like cow-gift in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that charity is not only the act but also the proper context; giving a cow in a sacred setting (near the fire-ritual space) is said to yield greatly increased merit.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and merit for the departed?

In Garuda Purana teachings, merit (puṇya) from dharmic acts—homa, offerings, hospitality, and especially dana—supports auspicious outcomes; the verse highlights how correctly performed giving is spiritually potent.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice sincere hospitality, perform offerings with understanding (homa/bali), and when giving charity, choose appropriate, sacred, and responsible channels—prioritizing dharmic intention and proper setting.