Shloka 54
The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā
कन्यादानैश्च विधिवद्भूमिदानैश्च भक्तितः । अन्नदानैश्च गोदानैः स्वर्णदानादिभिस्तथा ॥ ५५ ॥
kanyādānaiśca vidhivadbhūmidānaiśca bhaktitaḥ | annadānaiśca godānaiḥ svarṇadānādibhistathā || 55 ||
Durch die rituell rechte Hingabe der Jungfrau zur Ehe (kanyādāna), durch die hingebungsvolle Schenkung von Land, und ebenso durch Gaben von Speise, Kühen, Gold und anderen derartigen Opfergaben sammelt man religiöses Verdienst durch diese Akte des dāna.
Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga context on tirtha-mahatmya and dharma through dāna)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It highlights dāna as a core limb of dharma: when gifts are offered properly (vidhi) and with devotion (bhakti), they become a direct cause of puṇya (spiritual merit).
Bhakti is emphasized through the word bhaktitaḥ—charity is not merely social duty but an offering made with a devotional intention, aligning action (karma) with reverence and surrender.
The verse points to adherence to vidhi (proper procedure), implying practical application of Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharmaśāstra-style norms for performing acts like kanyā-dāna and bhūmi-dāna correctly.