Shloka 37

Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems

Devanagari script

दुर्भिक्षे राष्ट्रसंपते सूतके मृतकेपि वा / नियमाश्च न दुष्यन्ति दानधर्मपरास्तथा

Transliteration

durbhikṣe rāṣṭrasaṃpate sūtake mṛtakepi vā / niyamāśca na duṣyanti dānadharmaparāstathā

Translation

దుర్భిక్షంలో, రాష్ట్రవిపత్తులో, అలాగే సూతకములో గాని మృతకములో గాని—నియమాలు దుషించబడవు; దానధర్మపరులకూ ఇదే విధి।

Word by Word

• durbhikṣe: in famine
• durbhikṣe: Adhikaraṇa (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dur + bhikṣa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; samāsa: duḥ-bhikṣa (famine)

• rāṣṭrasaṃpate: in the prosperity of the kingdom
• rāṣṭrasaṃpate: Adhikaraṇa (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāṣṭra + saṃpat (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; samāsa: rāṣṭrasya saṃpat (prosperity of the kingdom)

• sūtake: during birth-impurity (sūtaka)
• sūtake: Adhikaraṇa (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūtaka (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana

• mṛtake: during death-impurity (mṛtaka)
• mṛtake: Adhikaraṇa (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtaka (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Sambhāvanā/avadhāraṇa-nipāta (particle: even/also)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-nipāta (disjunctive particle)

• niyamāḥ: rules/observances
• niyamāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; kartṛ-pada

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-nipāta (negation particle)

• duṣyanti: are vitiated/spoiled
• duṣyanti: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: duṣ (दुष् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• dānadharmaparāḥ: devoted to charity and righteousness
• dānadharmaparāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāna + dharma + para (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; samāsa: dāna-dharma-parāḥ (devoted to charity and dharma); viśeṣaṇa of (niyamāḥ or persons implied)

• tathā: likewise/so
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Upasaṃhāra/anuvṛtti-avyaya (thus/likewise)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even in calamity and during sūtaka/mṛtaka, niyamas and dana-dharma are not ‘spoiled’; dharma persists through adversity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga spirit: steadfastness in right conduct amid changing conditions; purity of intention sustains merit.

Application: Maintain essential disciplines (truthfulness, restraint, prayer, charity) even during hardship; adapt form but not the ethical core—support others materially and emotionally.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: public realm/community

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma sections emphasizing dāna and niyama as enduring supports

FAQs

What is the importance of niyama and dāna-dharma in the Garuda Purana during crisis?

This verse teaches that core disciplines and charitable righteousness remain spiritually valid even in extreme conditions like famine, public calamity, or periods of ritual impurity.

Does this verse permit religious practice during sūtaka (birth impurity) and mṛtaka (death impurity)?

It indicates that niyamas and dharmic charity are not rendered defective by such periods, emphasizing continuity of essential dharma despite impurity-related restrictions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

In hardship or bereavement, prioritize essential ethical conduct and compassionate giving; do not abandon dharma, even if some formalities must be adapted.