Shloka 100

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

बहुभ्यो न प्रदेयानि गौर्गृहं शयनं स्त्रियः / विभक्तदक्षिणा ह्येते दातारं पातयन्ति हि

Transliteration

bahubhyo na pradeyāni gaurgṛhaṃ śayanaṃ striyaḥ / vibhaktadakṣiṇā hyete dātāraṃ pātayanti hi

Translation

โค เรือน ที่นอน และสตรี ไม่พึงถวายทานโดยแบ่งให้หลายคน เพราะเมื่อทาน/ทักษิณาในสิ่งเหล่านี้ถูกแบ่งแยก ย่อมนำความเสื่อมแก่ผู้ให้จริง

Word by Word

• bahubhyaḥ: to many (persons)
• bahubhyaḥ: Apadana/Reference (अपादान/निर्देश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, बहुवचन — Ablative (5th), Plural; ‘from/than many’ (idiomatically: ‘to many’)

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध — Negation particle

• pradeyāni: should not be given
• pradeyāni: Vidhi/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dā (दा धातु) + -ya (यत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्/य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय ‘देयानि’ — Gerundive/obligatory, Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• gauḥ: a cow
• gauḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• gṛham: a house
• gṛham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• śayanam: a bed
• śayanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• striyaḥ: women
• striyaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• vibhakta-dakṣiṇāḥ: those with divided honoraria (split gifts)
• vibhakta-dakṣiṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vibhakta (वि-√bhaj भज् धातु, क्त) + dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Karmadharaya compound, Masculine, Nominative, Plural; ‘having divided fees/gifts’

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक — Particle (for, indeed)

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Demonstrative pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• dātāram: the giver
• dātāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• pātayanti: cause (him) to fall
• pātayanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (पत् धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; णिच् — Present, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural, Causative ‘cause to fall’

• hi: certainly
• hi: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक — Emphatic particle

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain gifts should not be divided among many; splitting the dakṣiṇā in such cases harms the donor’s merit and standing.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s subtlety: intention and method shape phala; improper procedure can invert merit into demerit.

Application: Avoid fragmented or ambiguous transfers in major commitments (property, caregiving responsibilities, intimate/relational matters); ensure clear, lawful, and ethical allocation to prevent harm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: social-ritual domain of dāna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.98-99 (proper giving procedure); Garuda Purana 2.34.101 (fruit of proper giving)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of rules on dāna (dakṣiṇā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that certain high-impact gifts must be given correctly; dividing them among many is treated as a ritual fault that can bring spiritual demerit to the donor.

How does this verse relate to after-death rites in the Garuda Purana narrative?

In the Preta Kanda’s ritual instructions, proper giving supports dharma and auspicious outcomes, while improper gifting is warned against as causing a “fall” (loss of merit), relevant to rites connected with śrāddha and offerings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing religious charity—especially connected with ancestral rites—follow tradition and competent guidance: avoid careless splitting of major gifts and prioritize clear, ethical, and properly intended donations.