Shloka 29

Dāna-dharma: Threefold Classification, Right Recipients, Auspicious Timing, and Fruits of Gifts

Devanagari script

तीक्ष्णा तपं च तरतिच्छत्रोपानत्प्रदो नरः / यद्यदिष्टतमं लोके यच्चास्य दयितं गृहे

Transliteration

tīkṣṇā tapaṃ ca taraticchatropānatprado naraḥ / yadyadiṣṭatamaṃ loke yaccāsya dayitaṃ gṛhe

Translation

الرجلُ الذي يحتملُ تَقَشُّفًا شديدًا ويهبُ مظلّةً ونعلين يعبرُ الطريقَ القاسي؛ وكلُّ ما هو أَحبُّ ما يُشتهى في الدنيا، وما هو عزيزٌ عليه في بيته، يُؤمَّنُ له بفضلِ ذلك الثواب.

Word by Word

• tīkṣṇā: sharp, severe
• tīkṣṇā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन/एकवचन (पाठभेदसम्भवः); विशेषणरूपेण—'तीक्ष्णम्' इत्यर्थः (तपः/तपम् इति सह)

• tapam: austerity
• tapam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• tarati: crosses over
• tarati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṝ (तॄ, तरणे)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• chatra-upānat-pradaḥ: giver of umbrella and footwear
• chatra-upānat-pradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chatra (प्रातिपदिक) + upānat (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक, √dā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (छत्रं च उपानत् च) + तत्पुरुषान्त (प्रदः)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (correlative)

• yat: whatever (each)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (yad-yad)

• iṣṭatamam: most desired
• iṣṭatamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √iṣ-इच्छायाम्) + tama (तमप् प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अतिशयवाचक (superlative) विशेषणम्

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• yat: and whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• asya: of him
• asya: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• dayitam: beloved thing/person
• dayitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dayita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सन्दर्भे द्वितीया (यत्...तत् कर्म)

• gṛhe: in the house
• gṛhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas plus compassionate, need-specific gifts (shade and footwear) become means to overcome severe trials and secure desired outcomes.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline (tapas) and selfless giving reduce egoic grasping; dharmic action yields both worldly siddhi and inner steadiness.

Application: Pair personal discipline with practical aid: provide protective necessities (shoes, umbrellas, blankets) to those exposed to heat, rain, and rough travel.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.51.28 (asipatravana/razor path)

FAQs

What is the importance of donating an umbrella and footwear in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that giving practical protections (like sandals and an umbrella) and practicing austerity generate merit that helps one “cross over” hardships and supports well-being and desired outcomes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

By linking tapas and charitable gifts with “crossing,” the verse implies that merit (puṇya) functions as support during difficult journeys and conditions described in after-death narratives of the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice self-discipline and give useful items that reduce others’ suffering (footwear, shade, essentials), treating charity as a dharmic act that builds character and beneficial consequences.