Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

शुभं वा यदि वा पापं भुङ्क्ते सर्वत्र मानवः / यदनस्तमिते सूर्ये न दत्तं धनमर्थिनाम्

Transliteration

śubhaṃ vā yadi vā pāpaṃ bhuṅkte sarvatra mānavaḥ / yadanastamite sūrye na dattaṃ dhanamarthinām

Translation

人无论身在何处，必定承受善与恶的果报。然而日未落时，若不将财物施与求乞的贫乏者，此种不施便成道德之过。

Word by Word

• शुभम्: good (act/result)
• शुभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Disjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तबोधक अव्यय (conditional particle: 'if')

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Disjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• पापम्: sin/evil
• पापम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भुङ्क्ते: experiences
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place: 'everywhere')

• मानवः: a man/human
• मानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यत्: when/that
• यत्: Sambandha (Clause link/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक अव्यय (relative particle; here introducing a clause: 'when/that')

• अनस्तमिते: (when) not set
• अनस्तमिते: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन् + अस्तमित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √अस्/अस्तम्-इ (धातु/प्रयोग) 'to set')
• Form: नञ्-तत्पुरुष; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; 'not set'

• सूर्ये: when the sun (is)
• सूर्ये: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: Kriya (State/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √दा (धातु))
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'given' (predicate adjective)

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

• अर्थिनाम्: of those who ask (the needy)
• अर्थिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; 'of the supplicants/beggars'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna and responsiveness to need are obligatory; neglect (anupakāra/akṛta-dāna) accrues moral fault alongside inevitable karma-phala.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: right action and giving purify the mind (citta-śuddhi) and shape destiny.

Application: Set a daily practice of giving (food, money, time); respond promptly to genuine need; avoid procrastinating generosity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: dharma

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma sections often stress dāna as portable merit and as support for post-mortem welfare (general internal resonance).

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

This verse frames charity as a practical dharmic duty whose presence creates merit (śubha) and whose neglect can contribute to demerit (pāpa), affecting what one must later experience as karmic results.

How does this verse connect karma with daily conduct?

It states that humans must 'bhuṅkte'—undergo the fruits of good and evil everywhere—so even ordinary, time-bound choices like giving (or refusing) wealth to seekers become karmically consequential.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate a habit of timely giving—support genuine need when approached, within your means—treating charity as a daily discipline that strengthens ethical living and reduces hard-heartedness.