Shloka 78

Devanagari script

भिक्षां वै भिक्षवे दद्याद्विधिवद्ब्रह्यचारिणे / दद्यादन्नं यथाशक्ति अर्थिभ्यो लोभवर्जितः

Transliteration

bhikṣāṃ vai bhikṣave dadyādvidhivadbrahyacāriṇe / dadyādannaṃ yathāśakti arthibhyo lobhavarjitaḥ

Translation

One should duly give alms (bhikṣā) to a mendicant and, according to proper rule, to a brahmacārin. Free from greed, one should also give food to supplicants, as much as one is able.

Word by Word

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• भिक्षवे: to a mendicant/beggar
• भिक्षवे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: one should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विधिवत्: properly/according to rule
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (manner) ‘according to rule’

• ब्रह्मचारिणे: to a brahmacārin (celibate student)
• ब्रह्मचारिणे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणि चारिन्)

• दद्यात्: one should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यथा-शक्ति: according to ability
• यथा-शक्ति: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययभावे

• अर्थिभ्यः: to the needy/supplicants
• अर्थिभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतौ) वा चतुर्थी-अर्थे दत्तिः; बहुवचन

• लोभवर्जितः: free from greed
• लोभवर्जितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त, √वर्ज्)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय ‘वर्जित’ = avoided; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लोभेन वर्जितः)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Give alms properly to mendicants and brahmacarins; feed supplicants according to ability, abandoning greed.

Vedantic Theme: Nishkama-karma: giving without attachment; purification of chitta through dana.

Application: Set aside daily/weekly dana; prioritize students/renunciants and the needy; give respectfully and without humiliation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ashrama/household interface

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.76 (measure and restraint); Garuda Purana 1.50.77 (atithi-puja); Garuda Purana 1.50.79-80 (mahayajna, consequences)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmacārin
• Bhikṣu
• Arthin (supplicant)

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames charity as a disciplined dharmic act—giving alms and food properly, within one’s means, and without greed—thereby cultivating merit and right conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not detailing afterlife geography here, it emphasizes dharma through selfless giving—one of the merit-producing actions (puṇya) that the Garuda Purana repeatedly links with favorable post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give food and support to sincere seekers and those in need in a respectful, rule-abiding way, matched to your capacity, and consciously avoid show, bargaining, or greed.