Shloka 14

Devanagari script

अप्रयच्छन्समाप्नोति भ्रूणहत्यामृतावृतौ / एषामभावे दातॄणां कन्या कुर्यात् स्वयंवरम्

Transliteration

aprayacchansamāpnoti bhrūṇahatyāmṛtāvṛtau / eṣāmabhāve dātṝṇāṃ kanyā kuryāt svayaṃvaram

Translation

Sesiapa yang menahan apa yang patut diberikan menanggung dosa seperti membunuh janin, dan pada saat kematian dia diselubungi oleh dosa itu. Jika para pemberi/penjaga yang layak itu tiada, maka gadis boleh memilih suami sendiri melalui svayaṃvara.

Word by Word

• अप्रयच्छन्: not giving (one who withholds)
• अप्रयच्छन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) प्र-उपसर्ग; प्रयच्छत् (शतृ-प्रत्यय) + अ-निषेध
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘न ददत्’ (not giving)

• समाप्नोति: attains/incurs
• समाप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भ्रूणहत्याम्: the sin of foetus-killing (embryo-murder)
• भ्रूणहत्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रूणहत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भ्रूणस्य हत्या)

• ऋतौ: in the fertile season/period
• ऋतौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• आवृतौ: when it has come/returned (at the time of occurrence)
• आवृतौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अभावे: in the absence
• अभावे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• दातॄणाम्: of the givers (eligible guardians)
• दातॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक; agent noun from √दा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• कन्या: the maiden
• कन्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do/undertake
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्वयंवरम्: self-choice marriage (svayaṃvara)
• स्वयंवरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयंवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (स्वयम् + वरः → स्वयम्-वरः; ‘choosing by oneself’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Withholding what must be given is a grave adharma with heavy karmic consequence; in absence of proper guardians, svayaṃvara is permitted.

Vedantic Theme: Karma binds at death; ethical action as purifier; dharma as regulator of social life to reduce papa.

Application: Fulfill obligatory giving/guardianship duties; when legitimate authorities are absent, follow sanctioned alternatives that protect consent and social stability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma sections on dana and consequences of withholding (general parallel motifs)

FAQs

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

This verse frames withholding what is rightly due as a grave adharma, equating it with severe sin whose effects can manifest powerfully at death—thereby emphasizing dāna and duty as essential to righteous living.

How does this verse connect karma to the time of death?

It states that the person who withholds becomes 'covered' by that wrongdoing at death, reflecting the Garuda Purana theme that one’s karmic residue can dominate the dying state and shape post-death experience.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Fulfill obligations without exploitation—be fair in support, charity, and family duties; and where traditional guardianship fails, respect lawful, ethical autonomy in marriage decisions.