Shloka 4

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

पात्रे दत्ते खगश्रेष्ठ अहन्यहनि वर्धते / दातुर्दानमपापाय ज्ञानिनां च प्रतिग्रहः

Transliteration

pātre datte khagaśreṣṭha ahanyahani vardhate / dāturdānamapāpāya jñānināṃ ca pratigrahaḥ

Translation

ఓ ఖగశ్రేష్ఠా (గరుడా)! యోగ్యపాత్రునికి ఇచ్చిన దానం రోజురోజుకు వృద్ధి చెందుతుంది. దాతకు ఆ దానం పాపరహితం; జ్ఞానులకు దానిని స్వీకరించడమూ నిర్దోషమే.

Word by Word

• pātre: in a worthy recipient
• pātre: Adhikarana (Locus: in/for a worthy recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• datte: when (a gift is) given
• datte: Adhikarana (Locative absolute condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dā (धातु) → datta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; सति-सप्तमी (when it is given)

• khagaśreṣṭha: O best of birds
• khagaśreṣṭha: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (khagānāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ)

• ahani: day
• ahani: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• ahani: day (after day)
• ahani: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (daily)

• vardhate: increases
• vardhate: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛdh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• dātuḥ: of the giver
• dātuḥ: Sambandha (Genitive: of the giver)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karta (Subject: the gift)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• apāpāya: for freedom from sin
• apāpāya: Sampradana (Purpose/benefit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-pāpa (नञ् + pāpa प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; प्रयोजन (for sinlessness)

• jñāninām: of the wise
• jñāninām: Sambandha (Genitive: of the wise)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• pratigrahaḥ: acceptance (of a gift)
• pratigrahaḥ: Karta (Subject: acceptance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prati-graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna to a worthy recipient grows in merit daily; such giving is non-sinful for the giver, and acceptance by the wise is also blameless—legitimizing pratigraha when dharmically grounded.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva and purity of means; social dharma supporting spiritual life (support of jñānins/learned); karma purified by right recipient and intention.

Application: Give to genuinely worthy persons/causes; if you are a teacher/monastic/learned person, accept support without guilt when it sustains dharma and is received without greed; maintain transparency and humility on both sides.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections on pātra-lakṣaṇa (marks of worthy recipients) and the ethics of pratigraha; Garuda Purana 2.14.3 (tīrtha-pātra-saṃyoga magnifies merit)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse states that charity offered to a fit recipient gains increasing merit day by day and remains free from sin for the giver, making recipient-selection a key dharmic principle in ritual giving.

How does this verse relate to śrāddha and after-death offerings in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, gifts and offerings connected with śrāddha are emphasized as effective when directed to qualified recipients; the verse frames such giving as continuously merit-producing and ethically pure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give intentionally: support genuinely deserving persons/institutions and, when receiving support as a teacher or spiritual practitioner, accept only what is appropriate and ethically obtained.