Shloka 20

Bhūmi-dāna, Satya-dharma, and the Non-cancellation of Sin by Charity

Devanagari script

संक्रान्तौ यानि दानानि हव्यकव्यानि यानि च / सप्तकल्पक्षयं यावद्ददात्यर्कः पुनः पुनः

Transliteration

saṃkrāntau yāni dānāni havyakavyāni yāni ca / saptakalpakṣayaṃ yāvaddadātyarkaḥ punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

Welche Gaben auch immer zur Zeit eines Saṃkrānti gegeben werden und welche Opfergaben für die Götter und Vorfahren dann dargebracht werden – diese Verdienste werden wiederholt von der Sonne gewährt und dauern bis zur Erschöpfung von sieben Kalpas an.

Word by Word

• संक्रान्तौ: at the saṅkrānti (solar transit)
• संक्रान्तौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्रान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• यानि: which
• यानि: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दानानि: gifts, donations
• दानानि: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• हव्यकव्यानि: (gifts) meant for offerings to gods and ancestors
• हव्यकव्यानि: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य + कव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• यानि: which
• यानि: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्/अविकारी (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• कल्पक्षयम्: the end of (a) kalpa
• कल्पक्षयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of a kalpa')

• यावत्: up to, until
• यावत्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Extent marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/परिमाण-अव्यय (limit/extent adverb)

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• अर्कः: the Sun
• अर्कः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• पुनः: again and again
• पुनः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Saṃkrānti (solar ingress day; parva-kāla)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dana and havya-kavya performed at saṃkrānti yield amplified, repeatedly renewed punya lasting up to seven kalpas.

Vedantic Theme: Rta/Kaala as divine order: actions aligned with sacred time intensify karmic fruit; Surya as cosmic regulator of karma-phala.

Application: Choose auspicious calendrical moments for charity and ancestral/devotional offerings; combine generosity with right intention and purity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-time marker

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections praising dana at parva-kala (eclipses, solstices, saṃkrānti); Garuda Purana: shraddha/dana timing doctrines—parva amplifies merit

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Arka)
• Pitris
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of saṃkrānti dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that charity and properly directed offerings performed on saṃkrānti gain exceptionally enduring merit, repeatedly “reinforced” by the Sun and lasting up to seven kalpas.

How does this verse relate to ancestral rites (pitṛ-kārya) in the Preta Kanda context?

By pairing dāna with havya-kavya, the verse highlights that both deva-offerings and pitṛ-offerings done at auspicious solar transitions are potent supports for dharma and for the welfare of ancestors, a central concern of the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

On saṃkrānti days, perform charity (food, clothes, dakṣiṇā) and, if appropriate, offer pitṛ-tarpaṇa/śrāddha with sincerity—treating timing, purity, and intention as key to maximizing spiritual benefit.