Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

दाता स्वर्गमवाप्नोति वत्सरान्रोमसंमितान् / कषिला चेतारयेत् भूयश्चासप्तमं कुलम्

Transliteration

dātā svargamavāpnoti vatsarānromasaṃmitān / kaṣilā cetārayet bhūyaścāsaptamaṃ kulam

Translation

Der Spender erlangt den Himmel für so viele Jahre, wie die Kuh Haare hat. Und wer eine Kuh verschenkt, erlöst darüber hinaus seine Sippe bis zur siebten Generation.

Word by Word

• दाता: the giver
• दाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक; √दा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ (agent)

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म (goal as object)

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वत्सरान्: years
• वत्सरान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration as object)

• रोमसंमितान्: measured by hairs (i.e., countless)
• रोमसंमितान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोम (प्रातिपदिक) + संमित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मा धातु, सम्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; वत्सरान् विशेषयति (qualifies 'vatsarān')

• कषिला: Kaṣilā (a sacred entity/place/person)
• कषिला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कषिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ (agent)

• चेतारयेत्: would cause to perceive/awaken; would save (causatively)
• चेतारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चि (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• भूयः: again; further
• भूयः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरर्थक-अव्यय (again/further)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

• असप्तमम्: up to (but not including) the seventh
• असप्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्-प्रत्यय) + सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कुलम् विशेषयति (qualifies 'kulam'); अर्थः: सप्तमं वर्जयित्वा (excluding the seventh)

• कुलम्: family/lineage
• कुलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Merit from go-dāna yields vast svarga-phala and benefits one’s lineage; karma extends beyond the individual into familial continuity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama (lawful fruition) within saṃsāra; puṇya as a purifier though not final liberation.

Application: Cultivate generosity with long-term intent: support family ethics and community welfare; dedicate charitable acts for collective uplift (saṅkalpa for ancestors/lineage).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.98 (go-dāna phala statements); Garuda Purana sections on puṇya aiding the departed (general thematic link)

FAQs

What is the importance of go-dāna (cow donation) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse states that gifting a cow yields immense merit—granting heavenly enjoyment and extending its benefit to one’s lineage up to seven generations.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to merit (puṇya)?

It links ethical giving (dāna) with post-death outcomes: puṇya accrued through charity supports auspicious destinations like svarga and strengthens the family’s spiritual welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice meaningful charity—supporting life-sustaining causes (food, shelter, care of animals, dharmic giving)—with sincerity and right intention, as a disciplined expression of dharma.