Shloka 13
Sūtaka-Nirṇaya: Causes, Duration, Exceptions, and Purification Protocols
उदिते नियमे दाने आर्ते विप्रे निवेदयेत् / तथैव ऋषिभिः प्रोक्तं यथाकालं न दुष्यति
udite niyame dāne ārte vipre nivedayet / tathaiva ṛṣibhiḥ proktaṃ yathākālaṃ na duṣyati
Apabila niyama (tata tertib suci) sedang diamalkan dan sedekah sedang dilakukan, hendaklah persembahan itu disampaikan kepada orang yang menderita melalui seorang brāhmaṇa. Inilah ajaran para ṛṣi: apabila dilakukan pada waktunya yang tepat, ia tidak tercemar oleh kesalahan.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Dāna performed during niyama, offered properly (especially to the distressed) through a qualified brāhmaṇa, is faultless when done at the right time.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: purity of action depends on right intention, right recipient/medium, and right time (kāla), reducing doṣa and binding.
Application: When giving during vows/observances, follow procedure: choose a worthy intermediary (brāhmaṇa), prioritize urgent need (ārta), and ensure timing/ritual correctness to avoid regret or ritual fault.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: ritual/social setting
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.39 (dāna-vidhi and śuddhi context, surrounding verses)
FAQs
This verse states that charity performed in the proper time and within a prescribed observance is not considered defective; correct timing preserves the merit and dharmic validity of the act.
In the Preta Kanda context, gifts and offerings are often made to support the distressed (including those affected by death rites). The verse emphasizes that offerings routed through a brāhmaṇa and done at the due time remain ritually pure and effective.
When giving charity during vows, memorial rites, or religious observances, prioritize proper timing, sincerity, and appropriate recipients (learned/ethical intermediaries), so the donation remains purposeful and undiminished in merit.