Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

या वापी निर्जले देशे यद्दानं निर्धने द्विजे / प्राणिनां यो दयां धत्ते स भवेन्नाकनायकः

Transliteration

yā vāpī nirjale deśe yaddānaṃ nirdhane dvije / prāṇināṃ yo dayāṃ dhatte sa bhavennākanāyakaḥ

Translation

Wer in wasserlosem Land einen Brunnen anlegen lässt, wer einem armen Brāhmaṇa Almosen gibt und wer Mitgefühl gegenüber allen Lebewesen wahrt—ein solcher wird zum Führer im Himmel.

Word by Word

• yā: which
• yā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; relative pronoun

• vāpī: pond/reservoir
• vāpī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāpī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• nirjale: waterless
• nirjale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; qualifying deśe

• deśe: in a place/region
• deśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• yat: which
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; relative pronoun used with dānam

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• nirdhane: in/for a poor (person)
• nirdhane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular; qualifying dvije

• dvije: in/for a twice-born (brahmin)
• dvije: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• prāṇinām: of living beings
• prāṇinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; relative pronoun (correlative with saḥ)

• dayām: compassion
• dayām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• dhatte: holds/maintains
• dhatte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā धा धातु (आत्मनेपद)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person, Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; correlative pronoun

• bhavet: would become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū भू धातु
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (लिङ्/Optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• nāka-nāyakaḥ: lord of heaven (Indra)
• nāka-nāyakaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāka (प्रातिपदिक) + nāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; tatpuruṣa: nākasya nāyakaḥ (leader of heaven)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Threefold dharma—public welfare (well), support of the needy brāhmaṇa, and universal compassion—leads to exalted heavenly status.

Vedantic Theme: Dayā (compassion) as sattva-guṇa expression; karma aligned with dharma elevates the jīva’s trajectory.

Application: Combine infrastructure charity, targeted support for the vulnerable/learned, and daily non-harm/compassion in conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: arid region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dayā and dāna repeatedly praised as puṇya; svarga titles as karmic rewards

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of charity and compassion in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents charity (dāna) and compassion (dayā) as high-merit deeds: public welfare (providing water), supporting the needy, and kindness to all beings together elevate one to honored heavenly status.

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

By highlighting acts that generate puṇya—especially compassion and life-supporting charity—the verse implies that such merit shapes favorable post-death destinations, described in the Purana as higher, celestial attainments.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support water access and community resources, give responsibly to those in need (including learned and needy persons), and practice non-cruelty and compassion toward all living beings as daily dharma.