Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 22

Bhūmi-dāna, Satya-dharma, and the Non-cancellation of Sin by Charity

Devanagari script

सदा जापी सदा होमी परपाकविवर्जितः / रत्नपूर्णामपि महीं प्रतिगृह्णन्न लिप्यते

Transliteration

sadā jāpī sadā homī parapākavivarjitaḥ / ratnapūrṇāmapi mahīṃ pratigṛhṇanna lipyate

Translation

那些恒常持诵真言（Japa）、恒常致力于火供（Homa），且戒食他人烹煮之食的人，即使接受充满宝石的大地作为布施，也不会受到玷污。

Word by Word

• सदा: always
• सदा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• जापी: one who performs japa
• जापी: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप् (धातु) + इन् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (agent noun, इन्-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सदा: always
• सदा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• होमी: one who performs homa
• होमी: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हु (धातु) + इन् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (agent noun, इन्-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परपाक: food cooked by others
• परपाक: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Qualifier base)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + पाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी/तृतीया-समर्थ (compound member); तत्पुरुष: 'cooked by another'

• विवर्जितः: avoiding, free from
• विवर्जितः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + वर्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• रत्नपूर्णाम्: filled with jewels
• रत्नपूर्णाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न + पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'filled with jewels'

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• महीम्: earth, land
• महीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रतिगृह्णन्: accepting (receiving)
• प्रतिगृह्णन्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• लिप्यते: is tainted, is defiled
• लिप्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense: 'is tainted')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Constant japa and homa, with strict purity (avoiding others’ cooked food), prevents moral taint even amid immense wealth (earth full of jewels).

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-shuddhi and vairagya: inner discipline neutralizes binding effects of wealth; purity of intake supports purity of mind.

Application: Maintain daily spiritual practice and disciplined consumption; practice mindful eating and ethical sourcing; cultivate non-attachment so resources do not corrupt character.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: emphasis on japa, homa, and śauca as purifiers; Garuda Purana: food rules and purity disciplines for dvija conduct

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of japa and homa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents japa and homa as continuous purifying disciplines that protect a practitioner from moral and ritual taint, even amid great wealth or gifts.

How does this verse relate to karma and purity in the afterlife context of the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda’s ethical framework, disciplined purity (japa, homa, and careful food conduct) strengthens merit (puṇya) and reduces karmic defilement that can otherwise burden the soul’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a steady spiritual practice (mantra, prayer, offerings), be mindful about what you consume and from where, and handle wealth or gifts without greed—so actions remain clean and non-binding.