Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

सत्यं दमस्तपः शौचं सन्तोषश्च क्षमार्जवम् / ज्ञानं शमो दया दानमेष धर्मः सनातनः

Transliteration

satyaṃ damastapaḥ śaucaṃ santoṣaśca kṣamārjavam / jñānaṃ śamo dayā dānameṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

Translation

Truthfulness, self-restraint, austerity, purity, contentment, forgiveness, and straightforwardness; knowledge, tranquility, compassion, and charitable giving—this is the eternal (Sanātana) Dharma.

Word by Word

• सत्यम्: truthfulness
• सत्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; धर्माङ्ग-निर्देश (as item in list)

• दमः: self-control
• दमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शौचम्: purity/cleanliness
• शौचम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सन्तोषः: contentment
• सन्तोषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• क्षमा: forbearance
• क्षमा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (member)

• आर्जवम्: straightforwardness
• आर्जवम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्जव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (क्षमा + आर्जवम्) समाहारार्थे

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शमः: tranquility
• शमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दया: compassion
• दया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दानम्: charity/giving
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• धर्मः: dharma/righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘धर्मः’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sanātana-dharma as a constellation of virtues (yama/niyama-like) integrating knowledge, restraint, compassion, and giving.

Vedantic Theme: Purification of mind (śama, dama, śauca) as groundwork for jñāna and bhakti; dharma as sādhana for liberation.

Application: Adopt a daily virtue checklist: satya, dama, tapas, śauca, santoṣa, kṣamā, ārjava, jñāna-study, śama, dayā, dāna; review actions nightly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ethical interior landscape

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dharma-lakṣaṇa lists and sadācāra teachings in adjacent chapters

Characters & Entities

• Dharma

FAQs

What is the importance of Sanatana Dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines Sanatana Dharma as a set of inner virtues—truth, restraint, purity, contentment, forgiveness, knowledge, calmness, compassion, and charity—presenting dharma as character and conduct rather than mere ritual.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing virtues that generate punya (merit) and reduce harmful karma, the verse implies that ethical living supports a favorable post-death journey and outcomes described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice truthful speech, disciplined senses, daily cleanliness, contentment, forgiveness, steady mind, compassion, and regular charity—treating dharma as consistent habits that shape one’s karma.