Home›Garuda Purana›Brahma Khanda›Adhyaya 95›Shloka 14
←Previous Verse
Next Verse→

Shloka 14

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

Devanagari script

अप्रयच्छन्समाप्नोति भ्रूणहत्यामृतावृतौ / एषामभावे दातॄणां कन्या कुर्यात् स्वयंवरम्

Transliteration

aprayacchansamāpnoti bhrūṇahatyāmṛtāvṛtau / eṣāmabhāve dātṝṇāṃ kanyā kuryāt svayaṃvaram

Translation

Ang sinumang nagkakait ng dapat ibigay ay nagkakamit ng kasalanang tulad ng pagpatay sa sanggol sa sinapupunan, at sa oras ng kamatayan ay nababalot ng kasalanang iyon. Kung wala ang mga nararapat na tagapagbigay/tagapangalaga, maaaring pumili ang dalaga ng asawa para sa sarili sa pamamagitan ng svayaṃvara.

Word by Word
अप्रयच्छन्not giving (one who withholds)
अप्रयच्छन्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Root√दा (धातु) प्र-उपसर्ग; प्रयच्छत् (शतृ-प्रत्यय) + अ-निषेध
Formवर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘न ददत्’ (not giving)
समाप्नोतिattains/incurs
समाप्नोति:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-√आप् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
भ्रूणहत्याम्the sin of foetus-killing (embryo-murder)
भ्रूणहत्याम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootभ्रूणहत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भ्रूणस्य हत्या)
ऋतौin the fertile season/period
ऋतौ:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootऋतु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
आवृतौwhen it has come/returned (at the time of occurrence)
आवृतौ:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootआवृति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
एषाम्of these
एषाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन
अभावेin the absence
अभावे:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootअभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
दातॄणाम्of the givers (eligible guardians)
दातॄणाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootदातृ (प्रातिपदिक; agent noun from √दा)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन
कन्याthe maiden
कन्या:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
कुर्यात्should do/undertake
कुर्यात्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√कृ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
स्वयंवरम्self-choice marriage (svayaṃvara)
स्वयंवरम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootस्वयंवर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (स्वयम् + वरः → स्वयम्-वरः; ‘choosing by oneself’)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Withholding what must be given is a grave adharma with heavy karmic consequence; in absence of proper guardians, svayaṃvara is permitted.

Vedantic Theme: Karma binds at death; ethical action as purifier; dharma as regulator of social life to reduce papa.

Application: Fulfill obligatory giving/guardianship duties; when legitimate authorities are absent, follow sanctioned alternatives that protect consent and social stability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma sections on dana and consequences of withholding (general parallel motifs)

FAQs

This verse frames withholding what is rightly due as a grave adharma, equating it with severe sin whose effects can manifest powerfully at death—thereby emphasizing dāna and duty as essential to righteous living.

It states that the person who withholds becomes 'covered' by that wrongdoing at death, reflecting the Garuda Purana theme that one’s karmic residue can dominate the dying state and shape post-death experience.

Fulfill obligations without exploitation—be fair in support, charity, and family duties; and where traditional guardianship fails, respect lawful, ethical autonomy in marriage decisions.

←Previous Verse
Next Verse→