Shloka 4

The Eight Nidhis: Guna-Based Types of Wealth, Giving, Hoarding, and Public Benefit

Devanagari script

रुप्यादि कुर्याद्दद्यात्तु यतिदैवादियज्वनाम् / महापद्माङ्कितो दद्याद्धनाद्यं धार्मिकाय च

Transliteration

rupyādi kuryāddadyāttu yatidaivādiyajvanām / mahāpadmāṅkito dadyāddhanādyaṃ dhārmikāya ca

Translation

ينبغي أن يُعِدَّ المرءُ الفِضّةَ وما شابهها ويهبها للزُّهّاد (اليَتي) ولمن يقيمون قرابينَ اليَجْنا للآلهة. وموسومًا بشعار اللوتس العظيم (مهابادما)، فليتصدّق أيضًا بالمال وسائر العطايا لرجلٍ بارٍّ قائمٍ على الدَّرما.

Word by Word

• रुप्यादि: silver and the like
• रुप्यादि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुप्य + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘रुप्य-आदि’ इति समाहार/समुच्चयार्थकं (etc.)

• कुर्यात्: should make/do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषणार्थ

• यति: of ascetics
• यति: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; ‘यतिनाम्’ (gen. pl.)

• दैवादि: of gods and the like
• दैवादि: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; ‘दैवादिनाम्’ (gen. pl.), ‘दैव-आदि’ = gods etc.

• यज्वनाम्: of sacrificers
• यज्वनाम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• महापद्माङ्कितः: (one) marked with the Mahāpadma (emblem)
• महापद्माङ्कितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महापद्म + अङ्कित (कृदन्त; अङ्क्/अङ्कय् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘महापद्मेण अङ्कितः’ = marked with the great-lotus sign

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• धनाद्यम्: wealth and the like
• धनाद्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘धन-आद्य’ = wealth and the like

• धार्मिकाय: to a righteous person
• धार्मिकाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna to worthy recipients (yati, deva-yajña performer, dhārmika) purifies wealth and accrues merit; gifts should be intentionally prepared and properly marked/allocated.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: offering wealth without clinging, aligning artha with dharma; sattva-increasing action that supports inner purification (citta-śuddhi).

Application: Set aside a portion of income for regular charity; prioritize learned ascetics, ritual performers, and demonstrably ethical persons; give with respectful presentation (clean, properly designated gifts).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa/ācāra sections): recurring emphasis on dāna and śrāddha-related gifting to qualified recipients (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Yatis (ascetics)
• Daiva-yajvans (performers of offerings to the Devas)
• Dhārmika (righteous person)

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charitable giving) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that giving valuables—especially to ascetics, ritual performers, and the righteous—supports dharma and generates spiritual merit (puṇya), which the text treats as a key support for one’s well-being beyond this life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing the soul’s journey directly, it prescribes dharmic giving as a practical means to accumulate puṇya—an essential resource repeatedly invoked in Garuda Purana contexts for easing post-death transitions and securing auspicious outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Donate ethically earned resources to genuine renunciates, sincere worship/ritual service, and demonstrably righteous people or causes—prioritizing integrity of recipient and intention, not mere display.