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Shloka 18

Dāna-vidhi: Pātra-nirṇaya, Go-dāna-mahima, and Rules of Acceptance

Devanagari script

न श्रोतव्यं द्विजेनैतदधो नयति तं द्विजम् / समर्थो यो न गृह्णीयाद्दातृलोकानवाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

na śrotavyaṃ dvijenaitadadho nayati taṃ dvijam / samartho yo na gṛhṇīyāddātṛlokānavāpnuyāt

Translation

二生者(dvija)不应聆听此等不正之言教，因为它会把那婆罗门拖向下坠。又，能受而拒受依法所献之物者，不能到达由布施功德所得之诸界——施主之界。

Word by Word
नnot
न:
Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)
श्रोतव्यम्to be listened to
श्रोतव्यम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Root√श्रु (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory)
द्विजेनby a twice-born (brāhmaṇa etc.)
द्विजेन:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन
एतत्this
एतत्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
अधःdownwards, below
अधः:
Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअधः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
नयतिleads
नयति:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√नी (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
तम्him
तम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
द्विजम्the twice-born person
द्विजम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन
समर्थःone who is capable/competent
समर्थः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootसमर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (used substantively)
यःwho
यः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)
नnot
न:
Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)
गृह्णीयात्should accept/take
गृह्णीयात्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√ग्रह् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
दातृलोकान्worlds of givers/donors
दातृलोकान्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदातृ + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन
अवाप्नुयात्should obtain
अवाप्नुयात्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√आप् (धातु) + अव (उपसर्ग)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa of improper discourse causes spiritual decline; refusing proper offerings despite capacity blocks attainment of merit-associated realms.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-saṃyama (restraint of the senses, especially hearing) and karma-bandha through acceptance/refusal governed by dharma.

Application: Curate what one listens to; accept appropriate support meant for dharmic purposes when one is a rightful recipient, without greed or contempt.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma passages on śravaṇa-doṣa and pratigraha-niyama; acceptance/refusal rules continue in adjacent verses (1.98.19-20)

Characters & Entities
D
Dvija (Brahmin)
D
Dātā (giver/donor)

FAQs

This verse frames acceptance by a qualified person as part of dharma: refusing what is properly offered—despite being eligible—causes loss of the merit-linked attainment described as reaching the donor’s merit-worlds.

In the Preta Kanda context, funeral and śrāddha-related gifts depend on proper transmission of merit; the verse warns that improper discourse degrades the dvija and that refusal to receive due offerings obstructs the intended spiritual fruit of giving.

Maintain discernment about what teachings or speech you engage with, and if you are legitimately qualified to receive support or offerings tied to religious duties, do not reject them out of pride—ensure the giver’s intention and the rite’s integrity are honored.

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