Shloka 6

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas (Great Sins), Vows, Tīrtha, and Sin-Destroying Observances

Devanagari script

सर्वस्वं वा वेदविदे ब्राह्मणाय प्रदापयेत् / सरस्वत्यास्तरङ्गिण्याः सङ्गमे लोकविश्रुते

Transliteration

sarvasvaṃ vā vedavide brāhmaṇāya pradāpayet / sarasvatyāstaraṅgiṇyāḥ saṅgame lokaviśrute

Translation

应当在举世闻名的汇流圣地——波涛荡漾的萨拉斯瓦蒂河交汇处——将乃至一切财物布施给通晓吠陀的婆罗门。

Word by Word

• सर्वस्वम्: all one’s possessions; everything
• सर्वस्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• वेदविदे: to a knower of the Veda
• वेदविदे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, dative singular)

• ब्राह्मणाय: to a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, dative singular)

• प्रदापयेत्: should cause to be given; should donate
• प्रदापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (optative, parasmaipada, 3rd person singular)

• सरस्वत्याः: of (the river) Sarasvatī
• सरस्वत्याः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (feminine, genitive singular)

• तरङ्गिण्याः: of the wave-bearing (river)
• तरङ्गिण्याः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरङ्गिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (feminine, genitive singular)

• सङ्गमे: at the confluence
• सङ्गमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, locative singular)

• लोकविश्रुते: world-renowned
• लोकविश्रुते: Adhikarana (Qualifier of location/अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + विश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, locative singular); समासः—लोकविश्रुत = लोके विश्रुतः (renowned in the world)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra, chapter context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna to a qualified recipient (veda-vid brāhmaṇa) at a tīrtha amplifies merit; relinquishment of possessiveness is itself purifying.

Vedantic Theme: Tyāga (renunciation of ownership) as a purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; karma performed with śraddhā in a sacred field (kṣetra) refines the mind toward śānti.

Application: Practice intentional giving (time/wealth/food) to genuinely learned and ethical teachers or service institutions, especially on pilgrimage days or at sacred waters, with humility and non-attachment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha-saṅgama (river confluence)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Ācāra sections): tīrtha-māhātmya and dāna to brāhmaṇas as puṇya-multipliers (general motif)

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvatī
• Brāhmaṇa
• Veda

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charitable giving) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights dāna as a prime dharmic act—especially giving to a Veda-knowing Brāhmaṇa—capable of generating strong puṇya when performed in a sacred tīrtha setting.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing the soul’s journey directly, it teaches a key preparatory principle: accruing merit through proper dāna at tīrthas supports auspicious outcomes after death as taught throughout the Garuḍa Purāṇa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support authentic Vedic study and ethical spiritual education through charitable giving, and perform donations with sincerity—preferably in a sacred context—without attachment to possessions.