Shloka 19

Dharma-sāra: Dāna-mahātmyam, Karma-vāda, and the Conquest of Grief and Greed

Devanagari script

नान्नदानात्परं दानं किञ्चिदस्ति वृषध्वज ! / अन्नेन धार्यते सर्वं चराचरमिदं जगत्

Transliteration

nānnadānātparaṃ dānaṃ kiñcidasti vṛṣadhvaja ! / annena dhāryate sarvaṃ carācaramidaṃ jagat

Translation

O Bull-bannered Lord, there is no charity superior to the gift of food. By food alone this entire world—moving and unmoving—is sustained.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• अन्नदानात्: than food-gift (from giving food)
• अन्नदानात्: Apadana (Standard of comparison/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अन्नस्य दानम्)

• परम्: greater
• परम्: Visheshana (to दानम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तुलनार्थे

• दानम्: gift
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karta (Subject, appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक

• अस्ति: exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वृषध्वज: O Bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• वृषध्वज: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य ध्वजः वृषः सः—शिवः)

• अन्नेन: by food
• अन्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• धार्यते: is sustained
• धार्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (Passive): ‘is sustained’

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चराचरम्: moving and non-moving
• चराचरम्: Visheshana (to सर्वम्/जगत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर + अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (चरं च अचरं च)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (to जगत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जगत्: world
• जगत्: Samanaadhikarana (Apposition with सर्वम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda, quoting/using an epithet 'Vṛṣadhvaja' in praise/invocation)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anna is the basis of life; therefore anna-dāna is the highest charity.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of beings; dharma as loka-saṅgraha (holding the world together) through sustaining life.

Application: Prioritize feeding the hungry, community kitchens, and reducing food waste; treat nourishment as sacred service.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: charity/feeding place

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated elevation of anna-dāna; later verse (1.221.21) quantifies its superiority

Characters & Entities

• Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of anna-dāna (food donation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse declares anna-dāna as the highest form of charity because food directly sustains all beings; therefore it is considered a supreme source of puṇya (merit).

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and Garuda Purana death-ritual themes?

While not describing Yama’s path directly, it frames dharmic support actions—like feeding others—as foundational merit-making practices often recommended alongside rites, strengthening one’s ethical and ritual preparedness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly feed the hungry, support community kitchens, and offer food to guests and the needy—treating nourishment as a sacred duty rather than a mere donation.