Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

अन्नदानस्य सर्वाणि कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् / अन्नात्प्राणा बलं तेजश्चान्नाद्वीर्यं धृतिः स्मृतिः

Transliteration

annadānasya sarvāṇi kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm / annātprāṇā balaṃ tejaścānnādvīryaṃ dhṛtiḥ smṛtiḥ

Translation

No other gifts equal even a sixteenth part of the merit of giving food. From food arise life-breaths, strength, and vitality; and from food also come vigor, steadfastness, and memory.

Word by Word

• अन्नदानस्य: of food-gift
• अन्नदानस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अन्नस्य दानम्)

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कलाम्: a part, fraction
• कलाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• अर्हन्ति: are worthy of / equal
• अर्हन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• षोडशीम्: sixteenth (part)
• षोडशीम्: Visheshana (to कलाम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडशिन्/षोडशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कलाम्)

• अन्नात्: from food
• अन्नात्: Apadana (Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• प्राणाः: vital breaths, life-forces
• प्राणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karta (Co-subject in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तेजः: vigor, brilliance
• तेजः: Karta (Co-subject in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्नात्: from food
• अन्नात्: Apadana (Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• वीर्यम्: potency
• वीर्यम्: Karta (Co-subject in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धृतिः: steadfastness
• धृतिः: Karta (Co-subject in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्मृतिः: memory
• स्मृतिः: Karta (Co-subject in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anna-dāna surpasses other gifts; food is the causal basis for life-breath, strength, vitality, vigor, steadfastness, and memory.

Vedantic Theme: Anna as upādhi-support for embodied consciousness; sustaining the body supports dharma and spiritual pursuit; citta-śuddhi through compassionate sustenance.

Application: Make feeding others a priority charity; ensure nutrition quality (not merely quantity); support maternal/child nutrition and elder care as ‘prāṇa-dāna’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: charity/feeding setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.221.19 (anna sustains the world) and surrounding dāna-stuti verses reinforcing anna-dāna’s supremacy

FAQs

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

This verse ranks food-giving above other gifts, stating that even a small portion of its merit surpasses them because food directly sustains prāṇa (life) and the faculties that uphold dharma.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and śrāddha practices?

Garuda Purana repeatedly emphasizes acts that sustain beings—especially feeding the needy and offering food in śrāddha—because nourishment supports life-force; thus anna-dāna becomes a key supportive rite linked with accruing merit for the departed.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Prioritize feeding others—daily, on anniversaries, or during śrāddha—through simple meals or community food service, treating it as a direct dharmic act that strengthens life and well-being.