Shloka 23

Moksha and Svarga through Dāna, Tīrtha, Nāma-smaraṇa, and Bhāva

Devanagari script

वर्षवृत्तिन्तु यो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणे दोषवर्जिते / सर्वं कलं स मुद्धृत्य स्वर्गलोके महीयते

Transliteration

varṣavṛttintu yo dadyādbrāhmaṇe doṣavarjite / sarvaṃ kalaṃ sa muddhṛtya svargaloke mahīyate

Translation

Wer einem makellosen Brāhmaṇa den Unterhalt für ein ganzes Jahr darbringt—und so alle Früchte in Fülle erlangt—wird erhoben und in der Himmelswelt geehrt.

Word by Word

• वर्षवृत्तिम्: (means of) livelihood for a year
• वर्षवृत्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (वर्षस्य वृत्तिः/वर्ष-पर्यन्त-वृत्तिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्राह्मणे: to a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; recipient

• दोषवर्जिते: free from faults
• दोषवर्जिते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दोष + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; √वर्ज् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (दोषैः वर्जितः); क्त-कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; qualifying ब्राह्मणे

• सर्वम्: all/entire
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; qualifying कलम्

• कलम्: portion/measure (here: merit/fruit, lit. 'all of it')
• कलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• उद्धृत्य: having removed/raised up
• उद्धृत्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद्-√हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव; 'having lifted/removed'

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

• महीयते: is honored
• महीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is honored/glorified)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Annually sustaining a worthy brāhmaṇa (varṣavṛtti-dāna) yields complete merit and heavenly exaltation.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama (moral causality) within saṃsāra; purity of recipient (pātra-śuddhi) amplifies fruit.

Application: Practice planned, sustained charity (food/maintenance) to qualified recipients with discernment and integrity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: loka (heavenly realm)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dāna-khaṇḍa themes): pātra-parīkṣā (worthiness of recipient) and svarga-phala of dāna; Garuda Purana (Preta/Śrāddha sections): emphasis on offerings to brāhmaṇas as conduits of merit

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana

FAQs

What is the importance of giving year-long sustenance (varṣa-vṛtti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats varṣa-vṛtti-dāna as a highly complete form of charity: supporting a worthy brāhmaṇa for a full year is said to yield “full measure” merit and leads to honor in svarga.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and afterlife outcomes?

In the Preta Kanda context, dāna is presented as a powerful dharmic act that strengthens auspicious karma; such merit is described as uplifting the giver and improving post-death destiny toward heavenly realms.

Practical application of this teaching today?

Support ethical and learned custodians of dharma (or genuinely needy, virtuous persons) with sustained, responsible giving—prioritizing purity of recipient and intention over display—to cultivate steadiness in charity and character.