Shloka 22

Dharma-sāra: Dāna-mahātmyam, Karma-vāda, and the Conquest of Grief and Greed

Devanagari script

कूपवापीतडागादीनारामांश्चैव कारयेत् / त्रिसप्तकुलमुद्धृत्य विष्णुलोके महीयते

Transliteration

kūpavāpītaḍāgādīnārāmāṃścaiva kārayet / trisaptakulamuddhṛtya viṣṇuloke mahīyate

Translation

井戸、階段井戸、池、貯水の水槽、そして人々のための園林を造らせるべきである。自らの系譜の二十一代を救い上げた者は、ヴィシュヌの世界において尊ばれる。

Word by Word

• कूप: wells
• कूप: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; समाहार-गणना (in list)

• वापी: step-wells/reservoirs
• वापी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वापी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समाहार-गणना

• तडाग: ponds/tanks
• तडाग: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समाहार-गणना

• आदीन्: and others (etc.)
• आदीन्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थे ‘etc.’ (ādi = and the like)

• आरामान्: gardens/parks
• आरामान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आराम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/indeed)

• कारयेत्: should cause to be made / should have built
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• त्रि: three
• त्रि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; समासाङ्ग (member of dvigu)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; समासाङ्ग

• कुलम्: (one’s) twenty-one generations/families
• कुलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘त्रिसप्तकुलम्’ = त्रि+सप्त+कुल (dvigu)

• उद्धृत्य: having rescued/raised up
• उद्धृत्य: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having lifted/rescued)

• विष्णुलोके: in Vishnu’s world
• विष्णुलोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः लोकः)

• महीयते: is honored/glorified
• महीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is honored/glorified)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lokahita-kriyā (public-benefit acts) as a high form of dāna that yields lineage-wide merit and divine destination.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: selfless action offered for the welfare of beings becomes a purifier leading toward Viṣṇu’s realm.

Application: Support/construct community water access, tanks, rainwater harvesting, and public green spaces; do so as a non-egoic offering.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: public works; sacred ecology

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dāna-mahātmyas and lokopakāra sections near this adhyāya; recurring motif of ‘kuloddhāra’ (uplift of generations) through charity

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kula (ancestors/lineage)

FAQs

What is the importance of building wells, ponds, and gardens in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats public welfare works—especially providing water and shade—as high merit (puṇya) actions that bring spiritual honor and benefit one’s lineage.

What does 'trisaptakulam' mean in this Garuda Purana shloka?

Trisaptakulam literally means “three sevens” of the family line—i.e., 21 generations—indicating that the merit of such dharmic acts is believed to uplift ancestors and descendants connected to the doer.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support or sponsor clean drinking-water access, water conservation (pond restoration), and community green spaces; treat these as ethical service (seva) done with a selfless intent.