Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 11
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and Dāna as the Soul’s True Companion on the Path to Yama
द्वेषाद्भयाद्वा समरे समागते शस्त्रं गृहीत्वा परसैन्यसंमुखः / न याति पक्षीन्द्र मृश्च पश्चात्क्षात्त्रं बलं तस्य गतं तथैव / द्विजाय दत्त्वा कनकं महीमिमां भूयः स पश्चाद्भवतीह लोके
dveṣādbhayādvā samare samāgate śastraṃ gṛhītvā parasainyasaṃmukhaḥ / na yāti pakṣīndra mṛśca paścātkṣāttraṃ balaṃ tasya gataṃ tathaiva / dvijāya dattvā kanakaṃ mahīmimāṃ bhūyaḥ sa paścādbhavatīha loke
噢，鸟中王者迦楼罗！凡战事起时，执兵器而迎敌军者，若出于憎恨或恐惧，便不得勇武之真实果报；其后其刹帝利之力亦被视为丧失。然若有人以黄金，乃至以此大地，奉施于二生者（婆罗门），则其后于此世复得兴盛。
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Courage motivated by hatred or fear lacks the true fruit of kṣātra-vīrya; generosity (gold/land-gift) to a worthy brāhmaṇa restores prosperity and standing.
Vedantic Theme: Intention (bhāva) shapes karma-phala; rajasic/tamasic impulses distort dharma, while sattvic dāna purifies and reorients life toward order.
Application: Cultivate disciplined courage rooted in duty rather than hatred; practice sattvic charity—support learning, spiritual life, and social welfare through responsible giving.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: battlefield and gift-setting
Related Themes: Garuda Purana discussions on dāna as purifier and on kṣatriya-dharma; Garuda Purana lists of dāna types (suvarṇa, bhū-dāna) and their fruits
FAQs
This verse emphasizes that gifting gold and land to a dvija (brāhmaṇa) generates strong merit, leading to renewed prosperity and favorable karmic outcomes, contrasting with actions driven by hatred or fear.
It links inner motive to karmic fruit: valor performed from base emotions (hatred/fear) is said to lose its true spiritual or dharmic benefit, while righteous giving produces lasting merit that supports one’s future condition.
Cultivate right intention in duty (including conflict or competition) and prioritize ethical charity—supporting learned, service-oriented recipients—so actions create constructive karmic results rather than reactive harm.