Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

मूल्येनापि लिखित्वापि ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नुयात् / एतन्मूलं जगद्यस्मादसृजत्पूर्वमीश्वरः

Transliteration

mūlyenāpi likhitvāpi brahmalokamavāpnuyāt / etanmūlaṃ jagadyasmādasṛjatpūrvamīśvaraḥ

Translation

വില വാങ്ങിയാലും ഇതെഴുതിച്ചാലും/എഴുതിയാലും ബ്രഹ്മലോകം പ്രാപിക്കാം; കാരണം ഇതുതന്നെയാണ് ആ മൂലം, ഇതിൽ നിന്നാണ് ഈശ്വരൻ പൂർവ്വം ലോകത്തെ സൃഷ്ടിച്ചത്.

Word by Word

• मूल्येन: by (paying) price
• मूल्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• लिखित्वा: having written
• लिखित्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having written'

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Brahma-world
• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समास: ब्रह्मणः लोकः

• अवाप्नुयात्: may attain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; 'मूलम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• मूलम्: root/cause
• मूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• यस्मात्: from whom/which
• यस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative)

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पूर्वम्: formerly/at first
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-viseshana (Temporal/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even facilitating the writing/copying of sacred knowledge can yield exalted fruit, because śāstra/veda-artha is portrayed as the creative root used by Īśvara in manifestation.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa and śāstra as a manifestation of cosmic order; creation linked to knowledge/word (vāc) and intelligibility.

Application: Commission, copy, publish, and distribute authentic texts with integrity; ensure accurate transmission and accessibility while honoring teachers and scribes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śāstra-dāna and lekhana (copying) praised as puṇya; manuscript-gifting motifs in Dharma sections

Characters & Entities

• Brahma-loka
• Īśvara

FAQs

What is the importance of sponsoring or writing sacred texts in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that even arranging for a sacred text to be written (even as paid work) brings great spiritual merit, described here as leading to Brahma-loka.

How does this verse connect scripture with creation?

It calls the referenced teaching/text the ‘root’ from which Īśvara created the world, implying that sacred knowledge is foundational to cosmic order and manifestation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support preservation and accurate transmission of dharmic literature—copying, digitizing, funding editions, or studying and sharing responsibly—as a form of dharma and devotion.