Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

दानधर्मात्परो धर्मो भूतानां नहे विद्यते / स्वर्गायुर्भूतिकामेन दानं पापोपशान्तये

Transliteration

dānadharmātparo dharmo bhūtānāṃ nahe vidyate / svargāyurbhūtikāmena dānaṃ pāpopaśāntaye

Translation

Für die Wesen gibt es kein Dharma, das höher wäre als das Dharma des Gebens. Wer Himmel, langes Leben und Gedeihen begehrt, dem ist Wohltätigkeit verordnet, um Sünden zu besänftigen.

Word by Word

• दानधर्मात्: than the duty of giving (charity)
• दानधर्मात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (दानस्य धर्मः); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• परः: higher
• परः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तुलनाबोधक विशेषण ‘higher/superior’

• धर्मः: duty/dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• भूतानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Negation (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• ए: (particle)
• ए: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ए (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; here with ह = ‘haiva/indeed’)

• विद्यते: exists/is found
• विद्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु, ‘to exist/ be found’ in Ātmanepada usage)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• स्वर्गायुर्भूतिकामेन: by one who desires heaven, longevity, and prosperity
• स्वर्गायुर्भूतिकामेन: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + भूति (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (स्वर्गं च आयुश्च भूति च—एतानि कामयते इति); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘by one desiring heaven, long life, and prosperity’

• दानम्: charity/gift
• दानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पापोपशान्तये: for the pacification of sins
• पापोपशान्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + उपशान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (पापस्य उपशान्तिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ दत्तिः

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (addressing Garuḍa, Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna is the highest dharma; it yields svarga, āyus, bhūti and serves as pāpa-upaśamana (sin pacification).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: selfless giving purifies and supports higher pursuits; puṇya as a preparatory aid toward inner clarity.

Application: Make regular charity a disciplined practice; give food, resources, and support to reduce harm and cultivate sattva; dedicate results to īśvara.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated praise of dāna as purifier and support for post-mortem welfare (general)

FAQs

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

This verse ranks dāna-dharma as the highest dharma for beings and presents charity as a direct practice for generating merit and calming sinful reactions (pāpa).

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing pāpa-upaśānti (pacification of sin), the verse supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that reducing demerit and increasing puṇya improves post-death outcomes such as favorable realms (svarga) and overall spiritual well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice regular, sincere giving—food, support, resources, or service—done ethically and without harm, as a daily dharmic discipline to cultivate merit and lessen negative karmic tendencies.