Shloka 13

Dāna-vidhi: Pātra-nirṇaya, Go-dāna-mahima, and Rules of Acceptance

Devanagari script

गृहधान्यच्छत्रमाल्यवृक्षया नघृतं जलम् / शय्यानुलेपनं दत्त्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते

Transliteration

gṛhadhānyacchatramālyavṛkṣayā naghṛtaṃ jalam / śayyānulepanaṃ dattvā svargaloke mahīyate

Translation

Wer Gaben wie Haus, Getreide, Schirm, Blumengirlanden, einen schattenspendenden Baum, Ghee, Wasser, Lagerstatt und Salben darbringt, wird in den Himmelswelten geehrt und erhöht.

Word by Word

• गृहधान्यच्छत्रमाल्यवृक्षया: by (the gift of) house, grain, umbrella, garlands, and trees
• गृहधान्यच्छत्रमाल्यवृक्षया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह + धान्य + छत्र + माल्य + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समास: (गृह, धान्य, छत्र, माल्य, वृक्ष) इत्येषां समाहार-द्वन्द्वः; तृतीया-एकवचन रूपेण '...या'

• न: not
• न: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात (negation particle)

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शय्यानुलेपनम्: bed and unguent/plastering
• शय्यानुलेपनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या + अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: शय्या च अनुलेपनं च

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• स्वर्गलोके: in the heavenly world
• स्वर्गलोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समास: स्वर्गस्य लोकः

• महीयते: is honored/glorified
• महीयते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः: 'is honored/glorified'

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific forms of dāna (house, grain, umbrella, garlands, shade-tree, ghee, water, bed, unguents) yield exaltation in svarga.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala as structured correspondence: gifts that relieve heat/hunger/thirst/fatigue mirror refined enjoyments in svarga.

Application: Prioritize gifts that directly reduce suffering: shelter, nourishment, hydration, shade, rest, and basic comforts; include ecological charity (tree-planting).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dāna-phala enumerations: chātra-dāna, jala-dāna, śayyā-dāna, vṛkṣa-dāna motifs recur in Dharma sections

Characters & Entities

• Svarga

FAQs

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

This verse teaches that specific life-supporting and protective gifts—food, water, shelter, comfort, and shade—generate puṇya that results in honor and upliftment in Svarga.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It links post-death well-being to karma: meritorious acts like dāna create auspicious results, shaping the soul’s experience in higher realms such as Svarga rather than suffering in lower conditions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize meaningful giving—food security, clean water, shelter, and care for comfort and health—as a dharmic practice that cultivates merit and compassion.