Shloka 14

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

गुणभाग्यनिधिः पुत्रस्तत्र जायेत धार्मिकः / सा निशा तत्र सामान्यैर्न लभ्येत खगाधिप

Transliteration

guṇabhāgyanidhiḥ putrastatra jāyeta dhārmikaḥ / sā niśā tatra sāmānyairna labhyeta khagādhipa

Translation

അവിടെ ഗുണവും ഭാഗ്യവും നിധിയായ ധർമ്മനിഷ്ഠനായ പുത്രൻ ജനിക്കുന്നു. ഹേ ഖഗാധിപാ! അത്തരം ശുഭരാത്രി സാധാരണർക്കു ലഭ്യമല്ല.

Word by Word

• guṇa-bhāgya-nidhiḥ: a treasure of virtues and fortune
• guṇa-bhāgya-nidhiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāgya (प्रातिपदिक) + nidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुणानां भाग्यस्य निधिः इव/निधिः)

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• jāyeta: would be born / may be born
• jāyeta: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• dhārmikaḥ: righteous
• dhārmikaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhārmika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (putraḥ)

• sā: that
• sā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संकेत (demonstrative pronoun)

• niśā: night
• niśā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• sāmānyaiḥ: by ordinary (means/people)
• sāmānyaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāmānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण/सहायकभावे

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• labhyeta: would be obtained / is obtainable
• labhyeta: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (passive sense)

• khaga-adhipa: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• khaga-adhipa: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (खगानाम् अधिपः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious timing and conditions yield a dharmic, virtuous offspring; rarity implies accumulated merit and right observance.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala manifests through appropriate causes and conditions; sattva-promoting conditions support dharmic outcomes.

Application: Cultivate wholesome conduct and preparation around conception; understand ‘rare auspiciousness’ as requiring discipline, merit, and right conditions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.13 (caturdaśī conception condition); Garuda Purana 2.32.15-17 (diet/regimen supporting conception)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khagādhipa)

FAQs

What is the importance of a dharmic son in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a righteous son—rich in virtue and fortune—as a rare spiritual blessing, implying that such progeny reflects accumulated merit and supports dharmic continuity.

How does this verse connect to karma and spiritual fortune?

By calling the event “not attained by ordinary people,” the text frames it as the fruit of exceptional punya (merit) and sustained dharma, rather than mere chance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize dharma—ethical conduct, charity, self-discipline, and truthfulness—so that one’s life and family culture become a ‘treasury of virtues’ rather than merely worldly success.