Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

अपत्यविजयैश्वर्यस्वर्गार्थं यत्प्रदीयते / दानं तत्काम्यमाख्यातमृषिभिर्धर्माचिन्तकैः

Transliteration

apatyavijayaiśvaryasvargārthaṃ yatpradīyate / dānaṃ tatkāmyamākhyātamṛṣibhirdharmācintakaiḥ

Translation

والعطاء الذي يُقدَّم طلبًا للذرية، أو الظفر، أو الثراء والسلطان، أو الجنة، فقد سمّاه الرِّشيّون المتأملون في الدارما «كاميَا»؛ أي صدقةً مدفوعةً بالرغبة.

Word by Word

• अपत्यविजयैश्वर्यस्वर्गार्थम्: for the sake of offspring, victory, prosperity, and heaven
• अपत्यविजयैश्वर्यस्वर्गार्थम्: Karma (Purpose-object/कर्म-प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपत्य + विजय + ऐश्वर्य + स्वर्ग + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (accusative of purpose)

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• प्रदीयते: is given (bestowed)
• प्रदीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दानम्: gift, charity
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; निर्देश

• काम्यम्: desire-motivated, for fulfilling wishes
• काम्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicate adjective)

• आख्यातम्: is called
• आख्यातम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√ख्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'called/declared'

• ऋषिभिः: by sages
• ऋषिभिः: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; कर्तृ (agent in passive)

• धर्माचिन्तकैः: by those who contemplate dharma
• धर्माचिन्तकैः: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + चिन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ऋषिभिः इति विशेषण (appositional qualifier)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāmya-dāna: charity performed with specific desires (progeny, victory, wealth, heaven) is acknowledged as a distinct category in dharma reasoning.

Vedantic Theme: Desire-bound karma yields finite results; recognition of motive is a step toward transcending it (moving from kāmya to niṣkāma).

Application: Audit motives behind giving; if giving is goal-driven, be honest and keep it dharmic—then gradually cultivate less attachment to outcomes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.51.5-1.51.8: motive-based taxonomy of dana culminating in ‘vimala’ dana

FAQs

What is the importance of kāmya dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies charity done for specific rewards—children, victory, wealth, or heaven—as kāmya dāna, helping a practitioner understand the intention behind giving and the kind of fruit it is meant to yield.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying gifts aimed at svarga and worldly gains as desire-based, it implies that such actions bind one to result-oriented karma, shaping post-death outcomes like heavenly enjoyment and continued return through rebirth rather than liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give with clarity of intention: if you seek a specific outcome, recognize it as kāmya; if you seek inner purification, reduce bargaining motives and cultivate selfless giving aligned with dharma.