Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 30

Jīva-yonis (84 Lakhs), Rarity of Human Birth, Sense-Restraint, Craving, and Śraddhā-based Dharma

Devanagari script

तदीदृशं परिज्ञाय धर्मार्थे दीयते धनम् / धनेन धार्यते धर्मः श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा

Transliteration

tadīdṛśaṃ parijñāya dharmārthe dīyate dhanam / dhanena dhāryate dharmaḥ śraddhāpūtena cetasā

Translation

Biết người thọ nhận là bậc xứng đáng như thế, hãy đem tài vật cúng thí vì mục đích của dharma; bởi dharma được nâng đỡ bởi của cải khi tâm đã được gột sạch bằng lòng tin (śraddhā).

Word by Word

• तत्-ईदृशम्: such (as that)
• तत्-ईदृशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘तादृशम्’ अर्थे

• परिज्ञाय: having understood
• परिज्ञाय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having fully known’

• धर्म-अर्थे: for the sake of dharma
• धर्म-अर्थे: Prayojana/Adhikarana (Purpose/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘धर्मार्थम्’ (for dharma) इत्यर्थः, अत्र ‘अर्थे’ रूपेण

• दीयते: is given
• दीयते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), आत्मनेपद; √दा

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karta (Subject in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धनेन: by wealth
• धनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• धार्यते: is sustained
• धार्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), आत्मनेपद; √धृ

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• श्रद्धा-पूतेन: purified by faith
• श्रद्धा-पूतेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक) + पूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘श्रद्धया पूत’ (purified by faith)

• चेतसा: with the mind
• चेतसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Wealth should be given for dharma to worthy recipients; shraddha-purified intention makes wealth a vehicle sustaining dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-shuddhi (purification of mind) through shraddha and dana; karma-yoga orientation (right intention).

Application: Practice mindful giving: verify integrity/need, give without vanity, cultivate faith and sincerity; treat giving as spiritual discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: charitable/ritual context (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dana with shraddha and patra selection as recurring criteria for fruitfulness

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the importance of dana (charity) for dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that wealth should be given specifically for dharma, because dharma is practically upheld through resources offered with sincere faith.

Does the verse emphasize choosing the right recipient for charity?

Yes. It says one should give after properly understanding the person as “tadīdṛśa” (of such a worthy type), implying discernment in religious giving.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give resources to genuinely dharmic causes or deserving recipients, and do so with a faith-purified intention rather than for display or ego.