Shloka 98

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

आचार्याय प्रदातव्या ब्राह्मणाय कुटुम्बिने / गृहीते ब्राह्मणस्तत्र को ऽदादिति च कीर्तयेत्

Transliteration

ācāryāya pradātavyā brāhmaṇāya kuṭumbine / gṛhīte brāhmaṇastatra ko 'dāditi ca kīrtayet

Translation

ഈ ദാനം ആചാര്യനു—അഥവാ ഗൃഹസ്ഥ ബ്രാഹ്മണനു—നൽകേണ്ടതാണ്. ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ സ്വീകരിച്ചാൽ അവിടെ ‘ഇത് ആരാണ് നൽകിയതു?’ എന്നു പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• ācāryāya: to the teacher
• ācāryāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/दत्ते), एकवचन — Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• pradātavyā: should be given
• pradātavyā: Vidhi/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dā (दा धातु) + -tavya (तव्य प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्/तव्य), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-भावः ‘देया/दातव्या’ — Gerundive/obligatory, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• brāhmaṇāya: to a Brahmin
• brāhmaṇāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन — Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• kuṭumbine: to a householder (family-man)
• kuṭumbine: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṭumbin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन — Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• gṛhīte: when (it is) received
• gṛhīte: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (ग्रह् धातु) → gṛhīta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी ‘गृहीते’ — Past passive participle used in locative absolute, Locative Singular

• brāhmaṇaḥ: the Brahmin
• brāhmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण — Indeclinable adverb of place

• kaḥ: who
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम — Interrogative pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• adāt: gave
• adāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (अङ्गीकृत-अनद्यतनभूत/आorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Aorist, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: Vacana-marker (उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक — Quotative particle

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक — Conjunction

• kīrtayet: should proclaim/announce
• kīrtayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kīrt (कीर्त् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna must be given to a qualified recipient (ācārya/gṛhastha-brāhmaṇa) and publicly affirmed to complete the rite.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: right action with proper adhikāra (fitness) and niyama (procedure) purifies the doer.

Application: When donating, prioritize qualified stewards/teachers; complete the act with clear attribution and transparency (record/announce) to avoid ambiguity and ensure accountability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (dana-sthala/agrahara/home)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.99-101 (procedure and fruit of dāna); Garuda Purana 2.34.100 (improper division of certain gifts)

Characters & Entities

• Acharya
• Brahmana
• Householder (Grihastha)

FAQs

What is the importance of giving dana to an acharya Brahmana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that gifts connected with after-death rites should be offered to a qualified acharya—specifically a householding Brahmana—so the rite is properly received and sanctified.

Why does the verse say to proclaim “Who has given?” after the Brahmana accepts?

The instruction indicates a formal declaration of the donor’s act once the gift is accepted, marking the dana as completed and publicly affirmed within the ritual context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing shraddha or memorial charity, give respectfully to a competent priest/teacher who lives by dharma, and complete the act with clear intention and proper acknowledgement rather than treating it as a casual transaction.