Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

इन्धनानां प्रदानेन दीप्ताग्निर्जायते नरः / औषधं स्नेहमाहारं रोगिरोगप्रशान्तये

Transliteration

indhanānāṃ pradānena dīptāgnirjāyate naraḥ / auṣadhaṃ snehamāhāraṃ rogirogapraśāntaye

Translation

Durch das Spenden von Brennstoff wird das Verdauungsfeuer (Agni) des Menschen kraftvoll und hell. Ebenso findet der Kranke Beruhigung seines Leidens durch Arznei, nährende Öligkeit und rechte Nahrung.

Word by Word

• indhanānām: of fuel (firewood)
• indhanānām: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• pradānena: by giving
• pradānena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradāna (प्रातिपदिक, √dā)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• dīpta-agniḥ: one with a blazing digestive fire
• dīpta-agniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √dīp-दीप्तौ) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (दीप्तः अग्निः यस्य/दीप्तोऽग्निः)

• jāyate: is born/becomes
• jāyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (जन्, प्रादुर्भावे/जन्मनि)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

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

• auṣadham: medicine
• auṣadham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: auṣadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• sneham: fat/oil; affection
• sneham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• āhāram: food
• āhāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• rogi-roga-praśāntaye: for the alleviation of the sick person’s disease
• rogi-roga-praśāntaye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rogin (प्रातिपदिक) + roga (प्रातिपदिक) + praśānti (प्रातिपदिक, √śam-उपशमे, उपसर्गः प्र-)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रोगिणां रोगस्य प्रशान्तिः; तस्यै)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna of fuel supports fire (outer and inner), yielding strong digestion; disease is pacified by medicine, unctuous therapy, and proper diet.

Vedantic Theme: Care of the body as dharma-sādhana: maintaining agni and health supports pursuit of puruṣārthas; karma aligned with order (ṛta) yields harmony.

Application: Support communal kitchens/cremation/ritual needs via fuel; for health, follow triad: auṣadha + sneha (appropriate fats/oleation) + pathya āhāra under guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.51.28 (dāna yields freedom from disease and long life)

FAQs

What is the importance of indhana-dāna (offering fuel) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links giving fuel with the strengthening of agni (vital fire), presenting charity as a practical support for life and well-being, not merely a ritual act.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it frames dharmic action (supporting agni and sustaining others) as a discipline of right living, which the Garuda Purana treats as foundational preparation for favorable post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support life-sustaining needs (food/heat/energy) as charity, and maintain health through appropriate medicine, nourishing diet, and balanced intake—treating self-care as part of dharma.