Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

दानं परिषदे दद्यात् सुवर्णं गोवृषं द्विजे / क्षत्त्रियो द्विगुणं चैव वैश्यस्तु त्रिगुणं तथा

Transliteration

dānaṃ pariṣade dadyāt suvarṇaṃ govṛṣaṃ dvije / kṣattriyo dviguṇaṃ caiva vaiśyastu triguṇaṃ tathā

Translation

A caridade deve ser oferecida numa assembleia de dignos. Ao duas-vezes-nascido (brāhmaṇa) dê-se ouro e uma vaca ou um touro. O kṣatriya deve dar o dobro, e o vaiśya o triplo.

Word by Word

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pariṣade: to the assembly
• pariṣade: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pariṣad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Potential), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• suvarṇam: gold
• suvarṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• govṛṣam: cow and bull
• govṛṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go-vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dvije: in the case of a Brahmin
• dvije: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण) - contextually recipient
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• kṣattriyaḥ: Kshatriya
• kṣattriyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣattriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• dviguṇam: two-fold/double
• dviguṇam: Viseshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi-guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (used adverbially)

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

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

• vaiśyaḥ: Vaishya
• vaiśyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

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

• triguṇam: three-fold/triple
• triguṇam: Viseshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri-guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (used adverbially)

• tathā: similarly/in that manner
• tathā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Charity should be given in a proper assembly; prescribed gifts (gold, cow/bull) to a dvija, with graded quantities for kṣatriya and vaiśya.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as social-ritual order (varṇāśrama) guiding karma; regulated giving purifies and sustains societal harmony.

Application: Give in accountable settings; prioritize meaningful, sustaining gifts; calibrate generosity to capacity and duty while ensuring the recipient’s worthiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: assembly/ritual hall (pariṣad)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.39.16 (continuation: śūdra fourfold; Manu-krama)

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Kshatriya
• Vaishya

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuda Purana’s Preta Kanda?

This verse frames dāna as a dharmic duty tied to spiritual merit (puṇya), specifying appropriate recipients and gifts, which the tradition links with supporting the departed and strengthening righteous conduct.

Does this verse describe Yama’s realm or the soul’s journey after death?

Not directly. Instead, it gives practical rules for charitable giving—part of the broader Preta Kanda guidance that accompanies rites and ethical acts associated with death-related observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give responsibly to qualified, ethical recipients (e.g., learned or service-oriented persons/institutions) and calibrate generosity to one’s capacity and social responsibility, keeping the intent of dharma and compassion central.