Shloka 16

Dāna-vidhi: Pātra-nirṇaya, Go-dāna-mahima, and Rules of Acceptance

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कार्यो वेदार्थसंग्रहः / इतिहासपुराणं वा लिखित्वा यः प्रयच्छति

Transliteration

tasmātsarvaprayatnena kāryo vedārthasaṃgrahaḥ / itihāsapurāṇaṃ vā likhitvā yaḥ prayacchati

Translation

కాబట్టి సమస్త ప్రయత్నంతో వేదార్థ సంగ్రహాన్ని సిద్ధం చేయాలి; లేక ఇతిహాసం లేదా పురాణాన్ని వ్రాసి దానంగా ఇచ్చేవాడు మహాపుణ్యాన్ని పొందుతాడు.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• सर्वप्रयत्नेन: with all effort
• सर्वप्रयत्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समास: सर्वः प्रयत्नः (all effort)

• कार्यः: should be done
• कार्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत्य)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'वेदार्थसंग्रहः' इत्यस्य विशेषण: 'to be done'

• वेदार्थसंग्रहः: a compendium of the meaning of the Veda
• वेदार्थसंग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + अर्थ + संग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: वेदार्थस्य संग्रहः

• इतिहासपुराणम्: history and Purana
• इतिहासपुराणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: इतिहासं च पुराणं च

• वा: or
• वा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• लिखित्वा: having written
• लिखित्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रयच्छति: gives/bestows
• प्रयच्छति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + यम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śāstra-sevā through compiling Veda-artha or copying and gifting Itihāsa/Purāṇa is a powerful meritorious duty.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa–manana support: preserving meaning (artha) enables right knowledge and dharma in Kali-yuga conditions.

Application: Create study aids, commentaries, and accessible editions; donate books/manuscripts to students, temples, and libraries; prioritize accuracy and pedagogical clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of Purāṇa/Itihāsa as dharma-support; śāstra-dāna as recurring merit

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Itihasa
• Purana

FAQs

What is the importance of copying or donating scriptures in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents preserving and sharing sacred knowledge—by compiling Vedic meaning or writing and gifting Itihāsa/Purāṇa texts—as a high form of dharmic merit.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on afterlife and dharma?

In the Garuda Purana’s ethical framework, actions that spread right knowledge (śāstra) strengthen dharma and support auspicious outcomes, complementing its teachings on conduct, rites, and spiritual welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support scriptural learning by sponsoring accurate editions, donating religious books to temples/ashrams/libraries, funding translations, or helping create accessible digital archives of Itihāsa and Purāṇa texts.