Shloka 2

Dāna-dharma: Threefold Classification, Right Recipients, Auspicious Timing, and Fruits of Gifts

Devanagari script

दानं तु कथितं तज्ज्ञैर्भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम् / न्यायेनोपार्जयेद्वित्तं दानभोगफलं च तत्

Transliteration

dānaṃ tu kathitaṃ tajjñairbhuktimuktiphalapradam / nyāyenopārjayedvittaṃ dānabhogaphalaṃ ca tat

Translation

The wise declare that charity bestows the fruits of both worldly enjoyment and liberation. Wealth should be earned by righteous means; only then does it yield the true results of giving and rightful enjoyment.

Word by Word

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

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक (but/indeed)

• कथितम्: is said/declared
• कथितम्: Kriya/Predicate (क्रिया-विशेष्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (predicate)

• तज्ज्ञैः: by the knowers (experts)
• तज्ज्ञैः: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचनम्

• भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्: granting the fruits of enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति + मुक्ति + फल + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying दानम्)

• न्यायेन: by lawful means
• न्यायेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचनम्

• उपार्जयेत्: should acquire/earn
• उपार्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + अर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लकारः विधिलिङ् (Optative), पुरुषः प्रथमः (3rd), वचनम् एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• वित्तम्: wealth
• वित्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• दानभोगफलम्: the fruit of giving and enjoyment
• दानभोगफलम्: Karma/Predicate nominal (Object or complement/कर्म-प्रत्यय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान + भोग + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

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

• तत्: that (result)
• तत्: Anaphoric complement (सर्वनाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna yields both worldly prosperity and liberation-supporting merit; artha must be acquired by nyāya (righteous means) for its fruits to be valid.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga: purification through dharmic action and relinquishment of tainted gains; artha subordinated to mokṣa.

Application: Earn honestly; avoid exploitative income; allocate a portion for charity; enjoy wealth without harm and with accountability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: śāstric discourse

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: discussions on puṇya from dāna and the demerit of adharmic livelihood; Garuda Purana: merit transfer and efficacy conditioned by purity of means

FAQs

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

This verse states that charity is praised by the wise as a means that yields both bhukti (well-being/enjoyment in life) and mukti (liberation), making it a central dharmic practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking charity with mukti, it implies that one’s ethical actions—especially giving supported by righteous livelihood—refine karma and support spiritual progress toward liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Earn through fair and lawful means, then give regularly and responsibly; wealth gained ethically becomes spiritually meaningful when used for charity and rightful needs.