Shloka 44

Brahmāṇḍa-Āvaraṇa Nirūpaṇa, Virajā-Setu, and Prākṛta–Vaikṛta Sṛṣṭi

Devanagari script

संख्यानुगणनं नाम यस्य नास्ति महाप्रभो / न दानं जातिप्रोक्तं सर्वदा नास्ति संशयः

Transliteration

saṃkhyānugaṇanaṃ nāma yasya nāsti mahāprabho / na dānaṃ jātiproktaṃ sarvadā nāsti saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Hỡi Đại Chúa Tể, người nào không thực hành sự tính đếm và kiểm kê đúng phép, thì các bố thí và cúng dường được quy định theo địa vị của mình cũng không thật sự được thực hiện—điều ấy không nghi ngờ.

Word by Word

• संख्या-अनुगणनम्: counting according to number / enumeration
• संख्या-अनुगणनम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुगणन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• नाम: called/namely
• नाम: सम्बन्धसूचक (Appositive marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामार्थक-निपात (particle meaning ‘called/namely’)

• यस्य: whose/of whom
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: क्रिया (Action; existential)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• महाप्रभो: O great lord
• महाप्रभो: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: कर्ता (Subject; ‘there is no dāna’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• जाति-प्रोक्तम्: as prescribed by caste/birth
• जाति-प्रोक्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; ‘दानम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: कालाधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: क्रिया (Action; existential)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: कर्ता (Subject; with ‘न’ = ‘no doubt’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna requires proper reckoning/measure and adherence to prescribed norms; without due accounting, charity is not truly accomplished.

Vedantic Theme: Karma requires right intention and right method (vidhi); outer act without order/competence fails to yield intended dharmic fruit.

Application: Keep transparent records of giving; match generosity to capacity and duty; ensure correct recipient, timing, and method; avoid performative or careless charity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dāna-mahātmyas and śrāddha-related prescriptions emphasizing vidhi, deśa-kāla-pātra; Garuda Purana: sections on sadācāra and proper conduct in ritual and gifting

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of saṃkhyānugaṇana (proper reckoning) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that without proper reckoning and due procedure, the prescribed dāna is considered not truly accomplished, implying that accuracy and discipline are integral to dharmic merit.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and śrāddha practices?

In the Preta Kanda context, correct performance—including properly counted and prescribed offerings—is emphasized so that intended ritual benefits and merit are not lost through negligence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charity and ritual duties with care—follow clear guidelines, keep honest accounting, and align giving with dharma rather than treating it as a casual or careless act.