Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 52

Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-Release Gift): Procedure, Merit, and Narratives on Dharma, Karma, and Liberation

Devanagari script

पात्रदानपरो नित्यमातिथेयाग्निसेवकः / गार्हस्थ्यं विधिवच्चक्रे भार्यया सत्यमेधया

Transliteration

pātradānaparo nityamātitheyāgnisevakaḥ / gārhasthyaṃ vidhivaccakre bhāryayā satyamedhayā

Translation

தகுதியான பாத்திரங்களுக்கு தானம் அளிப்பதில் எப்போதும் ஈடுபட்டு, விருந்தோம்பல் செய்து, இல்லத்தீயை (கார்ஹபத்ய அக்னி) பராமரித்தான். உண்மை அறிவுடைய மனைவியுடன் விதிப்படி இல்லற தர்மத்தை நிறைவேற்றினான்.

Word by Word

• पात्रदानपरः: devoted to giving (charity) to worthy recipients
• पात्रदानपरः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पात्र + दान + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुष: पात्रदानं प्रति परः (devoted to giving to worthy recipients)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यम् (अव्यय)
• Form: नित्यत्ववाचक अव्यय (adverb: always)

• आतिथेयाग्निसेवकः: servant of guests and the sacred fire
• आतिथेयाग्निसेवकः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतिथेय + अग्नि + सेवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: आतिथेयस्य च अग्नेः च सेवकः (one who serves guests and the sacred fire)

• गार्हस्थ्यम्: householder life; gṛhastha-āśrama
• गार्हस्थ्यम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गार्हस्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• विधिवत्: according to prescribed rule
• विधिवत्: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb: according to rule)

• चक्रे: performed; undertook
• चक्रे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); आत्मनेपद

• भार्यया: with (his) wife
• भार्यया: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• सत्यमेधया: with (a wife) of true wisdom
• सत्यमेधया: Sahakari (Qualifier of accompaniment/सहकारी-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + मेधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारय: सत्यैव मेधा यस्याः (having true intelligence); भार्याया विशेषणम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Gṛhastha-dharma: pātra-dāna (discerning charity), atithi-sevā (guest as sacred), agni-sevā (daily sacred duty), and spouse as sahadharmiṇī in righteous life.

Vedantic Theme: Yajña-bhāva in action: transforming ordinary duties into offerings; sattva cultivation through regulated living and generosity.

Application: Give thoughtfully to worthy causes, practice hospitality, maintain daily spiritual discipline (prayer/ritual), and build a truthful partnership that supports ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: gṛhastha home with agnihotra/household fire altar

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.51 (vaiśya conduct)

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of pātra-dāna (giving to a worthy recipient) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that charity becomes especially meritorious when offered to a proper recipient (pātra), forming a key part of righteous household life that accrues spiritual merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing disciplined household dharma—charity, hospitality, and sacred-fire service—the verse points to the kind of merit-based living that the Garuda Purana connects with favorable post-death outcomes and reduced suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give regularly to genuinely deserving causes/people, practice hospitality, and keep a daily spiritual discipline (prayer/ritual/ethical routine) as a structured way to live dharmically.