Shloka 16

Sūtaka-Nirṇaya: Causes, Duration, Exceptions, and Purification Protocols

Devanagari script

चतुर्गुणन्तु शूद्रेण दातव्यं ब्राह्मणे धनम् / एव मनुक्रमेणैव चातुर्वर्ण्यं विशुध्यति

Transliteration

caturguṇantu śūdreṇa dātavyaṃ brāhmaṇe dhanam / eva manukrameṇaiva cāturvarṇyaṃ viśudhyati

Translation

ശൂദ്രൻ ബ്രാഹ്മണന് നാലിരട്ടിയായി ധനം ദാനം ചെയ്യണം. മനുവിന്റെ ക്രമവിധി അനുസരിച്ചാൽ ചാതുർവർണ്യം വിശുദ്ധമാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• caturguṇam: four-fold
• caturguṇam: Viseshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur-guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tu: but/however
• tu: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• śūdreṇa: by the Shudra
• śūdreṇa: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• dātavyam: should be given
• dātavyam: Kriya-Viseshana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Tavya Pratyaya (Gerundive), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• brāhmaṇe: to/in the Brahmin
• brāhmaṇe: Adhikarana (Recipient context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• dhanam: wealth
• dhanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• evam: thus/in this way
• evam: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• anukrameṇa: in order/sequence
• anukrameṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anukrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• eva: indeed
• eva: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• cāturvarṇyam: the four castes (aggregate)
• cāturvarṇyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāturvarṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• viśudhyati: becomes pure
• viśudhyati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śudh (धातु) + vi
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A śūdra should give fourfold wealth to a brāhmaṇa; by following Manu’s sequence, the cāturvarṇya becomes purified.

Vedantic Theme: Collective dharma as purifier of saṃsāric life; emphasis on śuddhi through prescribed karma within social roles.

Application: Within one’s station, practice generosity and support of learning/ritual specialists; interpret ‘fourfold’ as strong encouragement toward earnest giving and service within one’s capacity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: social-ritual domain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.39.15 (graded giving)

Characters & Entities

• Manu
• Shudra
• Brahmana
• Caturvarnya

FAQs

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

This verse frames charity as a purifying act that supports social and spiritual order; giving (especially to a worthy recipient) is presented as a means of cleansing conduct and accruing merit.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader themes of karma and afterlife outcomes?

In the Preta Kanda, righteous acts like dāna are repeatedly linked with punya that helps counterbalance negative karma; this verse emphasizes prescribed giving as a purifier, indirectly shaping post-death wellbeing through accumulated merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional charity with respect and discernment—supporting learned, ethical, and service-oriented recipients—while treating giving as self-purification (reducing greed and strengthening dharmic responsibility).