Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 16
Sūtaka-Nirṇaya: Causes, Duration, Exceptions, and Purification Protocols
चतुर्गुणन्तु शूद्रेण दातव्यं ब्राह्मणे धनम् / एव मनुक्रमेणैव चातुर्वर्ण्यं विशुध्यति
caturguṇantu śūdreṇa dātavyaṃ brāhmaṇe dhanam / eva manukrameṇaiva cāturvarṇyaṃ viśudhyati
शूद्र को ब्राह्मण को चार गुना धन देना चाहिए। इस प्रकार मनु के क्रम के अनुसार चलने से चातुर्वर्ण्य शुद्ध होता है।
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)
Concept: A śūdra should give fourfold wealth to a brāhmaṇa; by following Manu’s sequence, the cāturvarṇya becomes purified.
Vedantic Theme: Collective dharma as purifier of saṃsāric life; emphasis on śuddhi through prescribed karma within social roles.
Application: Within one’s station, practice generosity and support of learning/ritual specialists; interpret ‘fourfold’ as strong encouragement toward earnest giving and service within one’s capacity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: social-ritual domain
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.39.15 (graded giving)
FAQs
This verse frames charity as a purifying act that supports social and spiritual order; giving (especially to a worthy recipient) is presented as a means of cleansing conduct and accruing merit.
In the Preta Kanda, righteous acts like dāna are repeatedly linked with punya that helps counterbalance negative karma; this verse emphasizes prescribed giving as a purifier, indirectly shaping post-death wellbeing through accumulated merit.
Practice intentional charity with respect and discernment—supporting learned, ethical, and service-oriented recipients—while treating giving as self-purification (reducing greed and strengthening dharmic responsibility).