Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

संक्रान्त्यादिषु कालेषु दत्तं भवति चाक्षयम् / प्रयागादिषु तीर्थेषु गयायां च विशेषतः

Transliteration

saṃkrāntyādiṣu kāleṣu dattaṃ bhavati cākṣayam / prayāgādiṣu tīrtheṣu gayāyāṃ ca viśeṣataḥ

Translation

Eine Gabe, die zu Zeiten wie Saṅkrānti dargebracht wird, wird zu unerschöpflichem Verdienst; noch mehr, wenn sie an heiligen Tīrthas wie Prayāga gegeben wird, und ganz besonders in Gayā.

Word by Word

• संक्रान्त्यादिषु: on saṅkrānti and similar occasions
• संक्रान्त्यादिषु: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्रान्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (आदि-समास); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (संक्रान्ति-आधार), सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; ‘on saṅkrānti etc. (occasions)’

• कालेषु: at times/periods
• कालेषु: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• दत्तम्: (what is) given
• दत्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → दत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); ‘given (gift)’

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• अक्षयम्: inexhaustible
• अक्षयम्: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• प्रयागादिषु: in Prayāga and other (places)
• प्रयागादिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (आदि-समास); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; ‘in Prayāga etc.’

• तीर्थेषु: at sacred fords/pilgrimage places
• तीर्थेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• गयायाम्: in Gayā
• गयायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

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

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Deśa-kāla-viśeṣa magnifies dāna-phala: saṅkrānti times and tīrthas—especially Prayāga and supremely Gayā—yield akṣaya merit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma is refined by saṃskāra of place/time; tīrtha as a support for sattva and purification (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi).

Application: Plan charitable acts during saṅkrānti; combine dāna with tīrtha-yātrā; prioritize giving at major confluences and renowned sacred centers.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (pilgrimage site)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Gayā-māhātmya and pitṛ-related passages (general linkage); Garuda Purana: tīrtha-kathā/dāna-kathā motifs across dharma sections

Characters & Entities

• Saṅkrānti
• Prayāga
• Gayā
• Tīrthas

FAQs

What is the importance of giving charity on Saṅkrānti according to the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse states that charity offered on Saṅkrānti and similar auspicious times becomes akṣaya—its spiritual merit is considered inexhaustible.

Why are Prayāga and Gayā highlighted in this verse?

The verse emphasizes that dāna performed at major tīrthas like Prayāga yields heightened merit, and that Gayā is especially potent—traditionally linked with ancestral rites such as śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna.

Practical application of this teaching today?

Plan charitable giving on auspicious calendrical occasions (like Saṅkrānti) and, if possible, combine dāna with pilgrimage or sacred-service; even otherwise, give with sincerity and dharmic intent to maximize the ethical and spiritual impact.