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Shloka 20

Dāna-vidhi: Pātra-nirṇaya, Go-dāna-mahima, and Rules of Acceptance

Devanagari script

अन्यत्र कुलटाषण्ढपतितेभ्यो द्विषस्तथा / देवातिथ्यर्चनकृते पितृतृप्त्यर्थमेव च / सर्वतः प्रतिगृह्णीयादात्मतृप्सर्थमेव च

Transliteration

anyatra kulaṭāṣaṇḍhapatitebhyo dviṣastathā / devātithyarcanakṛte pitṛtṛptyarthameva ca / sarvataḥ pratigṛhṇīyādātmatṛpsarthameva ca

Translation

On doit accepter les dons de toutes parts — sauf de la kulatā (prostituée), du ṣaṇḍha, du patita (déchu du dharma) et de l’ennemi. L’acceptation est juste lorsqu’elle sert au culte des devas et à l’honneur de l’atithi (l’hôte), à la satisfaction des Pitṛs (ancêtres), et aussi à la subsistance légitime de soi-même.

Word by Word
अन्यत्रexcept
अन्यत्र:
Apavada (Exception/अपवाद)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्यत्र (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अपवादार्थक (exceptive adverb: ‘except’)
कुलटाfrom a prostitute
कुलटा:
Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootकुलटा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)
षण्ढfrom an impotent person/eunuch
षण्ढ:
Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootषण्ढ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)
पतितेभ्यःfrom fallen/outcaste persons
पतितेभ्यः:
Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootपतित (√पत्, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (fallen/outcaste)
द्विषःfrom enemies
द्विषः:
Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), बहुवचन; ‘द्विष्’ = शत्रु (enemy)
तथाalso
तथा:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थ (also/likewise)
देवातिथ्यर्चनकृतेfor worship/honoring of gods and guests
देवातिथ्यर्चनकृते:
Adhikarana (Purpose-locative/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootदेव + आतिथ्य + अर्चन + कृते (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; हेतौ/प्रयोजने (locative of purpose: ‘for the sake of’)
पितृतृप्त्यर्थम्for the purpose of satisfying the ancestors
पितृतृप्त्यर्थम्:
Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ + तृप्ति + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (accusative of purpose)
एवindeed, only
एव:
Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधारणार्थ (emphatic particle)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
सर्वतःfrom everywhere
सर्वतः:
Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसर्वतः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; देश/स्रोतः-वाचक (adverb: from everywhere)
प्रतिगृह्णीयात्should accept (receive)
प्रतिगृह्णीयात्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√ग्रह् (धातु) + प्रति (उपसर्ग)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
आत्मतृप्सर्थम्for the sake of one’s own satisfaction
आत्मतृप्सर्थम्:
Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन् + तृप्ति + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (accusative of purpose)
एवindeed, only
एव:
Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधारणार्थ (emphatic particle)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pratigraha is generally allowed for dharmic ends, but gifts from certain disqualified persons and enemies are to be avoided; acceptance is justified by worship, hospitality, ancestor satisfaction, and lawful sustenance.

Vedantic Theme: Sāttvika-niyama: purity of means (upāya-śuddhi) and intention (saṅkalpa) in sustaining dharma.

Application: Maintain ethical donor screening and conflict-of-interest boundaries; accept resources when they support worship/service/family duties and legitimate livelihood.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma sections on śrāddha and pitṛ-tarpaṇa; adjacent pratigraha rules (1.98.18-19)

Characters & Entities
D
Devas
A
Atithi (guest)
P
Pitris

FAQs

This verse frames acceptance of gifts as a dharmic act when it supports deva-worship, hospitality, and Pitṛ-satisfaction, while warning against tainted sources that can compromise ritual purity and merit.

It explicitly permits receiving resources intended for pitṛ-tṛpti—i.e., offerings and rites meant to satisfy ancestors—indicating that such ritual purposes justify acceptance even broadly, provided the source is not prohibited.

Accept or fund religious/charitable support with ethical discernment: prioritize transparent, non-harmful sources, and use donations for worship, hospitality, and family-ancestor observances rather than personal greed.

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