Shloka 33

Dāna-dharma: Threefold Classification, Right Recipients, Auspicious Timing, and Fruits of Gifts

Devanagari script

दीयमानं तु यो मोहाद्गोविप्राग्निसुरेषु च / निवारयति पापात्मा तिर्यग्योनिं व्रजेन्नरः

Transliteration

dīyamānaṃ tu yo mohādgoviprāgnisureṣu ca / nivārayati pāpātmā tiryagyoniṃ vrajennaraḥ

Translation

മോഹത്താൽ പശു, വിപ്രൻ, അഗ്നി, ദേവന്മാർ എന്നിവർക്കായി നൽകപ്പെടുന്ന ദാനം തടയുന്ന പാപാത്മാവ് മനുഷ്യൻ തിര്യഗ്യോനി (മൃഗജന്മം) പ്രാപിക്കും।

Word by Word

• दीयमानम्: (a gift) being given
• दीयमानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + यमान (शानच्/यमान, कृदन्त) → दीयमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि वर्तमानकृदन्त; ‘being given’

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• मोहात्: out of delusion
• मोहात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/हेतु/अपादान), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ

• गोविप्राग्निसुरेषु: among cows, Brahmins, fire, and gods
• गोविप्राग्निसुरेषु: Adhikarana (Sphere/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; ‘among cows, brāhmaṇas, fire, and gods’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• निवारयति: prevents/obstructs
• निवारयति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + वॄ (धातु) / वॄञ् (to restrain)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पापात्मा: a sinful-souled person
• पापात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one whose self is sinful’

• तिर्यग्योनिम्: an animal birth
• तिर्यग्योनिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिर्यक् (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘animal womb/birth’

• व्रजेत्: would go/should go (i.e., goes)
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/आज्ञा), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Obstructing offerings to sacred recipients generates severe demerit leading to subhuman rebirth (tiryag-yoni).

Vedantic Theme: Adharma born of moha binds the jīva to lower births; ethical action supports upward evolution of consciousness.

Application: Do not hinder others’ charity or religious duties; cultivate respect for sacred institutions and for those who sustain learning and worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: rebirth in lower yonis as karma-phala (general); Garuda Purana: condemnation of adharma that blocks dharma acts (general)

Characters & Entities

• Cows (Go)
• Brahmins (Vipra)
• Agni (sacred fire)
• Devas (Suras)

FAQs

What is the importance of dana (charity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats dana as a protected dharmic act: obstructing gifts meant for cows, Brahmins, Agni, and the Devas is counted as a serious fault that leads to degraded rebirth.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It links intention and action to rebirth: deluded interference in sacred giving creates negative karma that pulls the soul toward a subhuman (tiryag-yoni) embodiment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not block or discourage sincere charitable or religious offerings; instead, support ethical giving and respectful completion of vows, rituals, and donations.