Shloka 11

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

एका चैकस्य दातव्या शय्या कन्या पयस्विनी / सा विक्रीता वा दहत्यासप्तमं कुलम्

Transliteration

ekā caikasya dātavyā śayyā kanyā payasvinī / sā vikrītā vā dahatyāsaptamaṃ kulam

Translation

一人只应受一床，并当施与一头能出乳的年轻母牛。若将此牛卖出，据说会祸及家族血脉，直至第七代。

Word by Word

• एका: one (single)
• एका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Nominative singular, feminine)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• एकस्य: of one (person)
• एकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धे (Genitive singular, masculine; 'of one')

• दातव्या: to be given/should be given
• दातव्या: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: विधेय-कर्तव्यता; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्तः; स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (gerundive/obligatory; fem nom sg)

• शय्या: bed
• शय्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, feminine)

• कन्या: maiden/daughter
• कन्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; शय्याया विशेषणवत्/सम्बोधनार्थे (Nominative singular, feminine; apposition)

• पयस्विनी: milk-giving (cow)
• पयस्विनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पयस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Nominative singular, feminine)

• सा: she/that
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, feminine)

• विक्रीता: sold
• विक्रीता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+क्री (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (past passive participle; fem nom sg)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle 'or')

• दहति: burns/destroys
• दहति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् (Present indicative, 3rd sg)

• आसप्तमम्: up to the seventh
• आसप्तमम्: Karma (Extent/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; अवधि-अर्थे (Accusative singular, neuter; 'up to the seventh')

• कुलम्: family/lineage
• कुलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Accusative singular, neuter)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rules of dāna: a bed and a milch cow are to be given properly; selling the gifted cow is adharma causing kula-nāśa up to seven generations.

Vedantic Theme: Ethics of non-appropriation: sacred gifts are not to be converted into profit; dharma sustains lineage and social-ritual order (loka-saṅgraha).

Application: When giving/receiving sacred gifts, maintain their intended use; avoid resale/commodification of items given as dharmic dāna.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: household and cattle-shed context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dāna-khaṇḍa norms: prohibitions on selling/abusing gifted items; lineage consequences motif appears in dāna and preta contexts

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Lineage (Kula)

FAQs

What is the importance of śayyā-dāna and giving a milk-yielding cow in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames such gifts as regulated offerings within preta-kārya (funerary rites): they must be properly given (one bed to one recipient) and accompanied by a suitable cow, emphasizing dharmic integrity in śrāddha-related dāna.

How does this verse connect actions after death with consequences for the family line?

It warns that mishandling the donated cow—specifically selling it—creates severe negative consequences described as ‘burning’ the kula up to seven generations, linking ritual ethics to inherited karmic impact.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If making memorial/ritual donations, give responsibly: donate to a proper recipient, avoid transactional misuse of sacred gifts, and ensure offerings are made with sincerity rather than profit.