Shloka 22

Āśauca and Udaka-kriyā: Post-Cremation Conduct, Eligibility, and Purifiers

Devanagari script

अकार्यकारिणां दानं वेगो नद्यास्तु शुद्धिकृत् / क्षात्त्रेण कर्मणा जीवेद्विशां वाप्यापदि द्विजः

Transliteration

akāryakāriṇāṃ dānaṃ vego nadyāstu śuddhikṛt / kṣāttreṇa karmaṇā jīvedviśāṃ vāpyāpadi dvijaḥ

Translation

Bố thí cho kẻ làm điều phi pháp được xem là không thích đáng; và dòng nước chảy xiết của sông là bậc tẩy tịnh. Nhưng trong lúc khốn khó, người “hai lần sinh” (dvija) có thể nuôi thân bằng việc phục vụ theo phận sự Kṣatriya, hoặc thậm chí bằng phương kế của Vaiśya.

Word by Word

• अकार्यकारिणाम्: of wrongdoers
• अकार्यकारिणाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकार्य + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘अकार्यकारिन्’ = अकार्यं करोति इति (doer of improper acts)

• दानम्: giving (charity)
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वेगः: force/flow
• वेगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• नद्याः: of a river
• नद्याः: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• शुद्धिकृत्: purifying
• शुद्धिकृत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्धि + कृ (धातु) → कृत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘कृत्’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘शुद्धिं करोति’ इति (purifying)

• क्षात्त्रेण: by kshatriya-type
• क्षात्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘क्षात्र’ = क्षत्रियसम्बन्धि (kshatriya-like)

• कर्मणा: by occupation/work
• कर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• जीवेत्: should live
• जीवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विशाम्: of the Vaishyas
• विशाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश् (प्रातिपदिक: विश्/विशः = वैश्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘विश्’ = वैश्यवर्गः

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• आपदि: in distress
• आपदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• द्विजः: a Brahmin (twice-born)
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dana requires worthy recipients; river-current purifies; in distress a dvija may adopt kṣātra service or vaiśya means for survival (āpad-dharma).

Vedantic Theme: Ethics of intention and discernment (viveka) in giving; flexibility of social roles under necessity without losing dharmic orientation.

Application: Give with discrimination; use flowing water for purification when needed; in crisis, choose lawful, least-harm livelihood options even if outside one’s usual role, returning to normal duties when possible.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: river/ford

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.106 (dāna/śauca/āpad rules)

FAQs

What is the importance of choosing the right recipient for dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that charity should be given to worthy recipients; giving to those engaged in improper conduct is treated as unsuitable and does not yield the intended dharmic merit.

How does this verse explain purification practices in the Garuda Purana?

It notes that the swift flow of a river is inherently purifying—supporting the idea that certain natural waters are ritually cleansing when used appropriately.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional charity by supporting ethical recipients and causes; and in hardship, choose honest work—even outside one’s usual role—while keeping conduct disciplined and non-harmful.