Shloka 42

Āyuḥ-kṣaya by Vikarma; Impermanence of the Body; Aśauca and Child Śrāddha Procedures; Dāna as Remedy

Devanagari script

तस्मै यद्रोचते देयमदत्त्वा निर्धने कुले / स्वल्पायुर्निर्धनो भूत्वा रतिभक्तिविवर्जितः

Transliteration

tasmai yadrocate deyamadattvā nirdhane kule / svalpāyurnirdhano bhūtvā ratibhaktivivarjitaḥ

Translation

เพราะฉะนั้น พึงให้สิ่งที่เขาพอใจและเหมาะสมแก่เขา หากไม่ให้ทาน ย่อมเกิดในตระกูลยากจน มีอายุสั้น ขัดสน และปราศจากความรักกับภักติ

Word by Word

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• रोचते: pleases/is liked
• रोचते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• देयम्: should be given
• देयम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• अदत्त्वा: without giving
• अदत्त्वा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): नकारार्थक उपसर्ग 'अ-' सहित (without giving)

• निर्धने: in a poor
• निर्धने: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier) कुले

• कुले: family/lineage
• कुले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वल्पायुः: short-lived
• स्वल्पायुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—स्वल्पम् आयुः यस्य (short-lived)

• निर्धनः: poor
• निर्धनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भू (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): having become

• रतिभक्तिविवर्जितः: devoid of pleasure and devotion
• रतिभक्तिविवर्जितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रति + भक्ति + विवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वर्ज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—रति-भक्ति-भ्यां विवर्जितः (devoid of pleasure and devotion)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Failure to give (adāna) produces adverse karmic results: low birth, poverty, short lifespan, and diminished capacity for love/bhakti.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala governs embodied conditions; generosity loosens grasping (lobha) and supports sattva conducive to devotion and insight.

Application: Practice timely, considerate giving—offer what truly benefits and pleases the recipient; avoid habitual withholding that hardens the heart and invites social/spiritual impoverishment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dāna-phala and adāna-doṣa discussions; Garuda Purana statements linking charity with longevity, prosperity, and devotional capacity

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dāna as a direct dharmic duty: giving what is appropriate and pleasing supports merit, while refusal to give creates karmic results such as poverty, shortened lifespan, and loss of affectionate and devotional disposition.

How does this verse explain karmic results connected to the afterlife teachings of the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda’s moral logic, actions around giving and withholding shape future embodiment; the verse states that non-giving conditions the next birth toward deprivation—material (poverty), vital (short life), and emotional-spiritual (lack of love and bhakti).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional giving—offer help in a form that truly benefits the recipient (food, support, resources), and cultivate generosity as a daily discipline to strengthen dharma and reduce self-centered habits.