Shloka 9
An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya
इत्युक्त्वा चरतां धर्मं सह या दीयते ऽर्थिने / स कायः पावयेत्तज्जः षड्वंश्यानात्मना सह
ityuktvā caratāṃ dharmaṃ saha yā dīyate 'rthine / sa kāyaḥ pāvayettajjaḥ ṣaḍvaṃśyānātmanā saha
Having thus enjoined the practice of dharma, whatever is given together as charity to a worthy supplicant—by that act a person purifies his own embodied existence, and along with himself purifies the six lines of his family.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Dāna given rightly (to a worthy recipient, with proper intent) purifies the embodied self and extends merit to family lines.
Vedantic Theme: Purification of antaḥkaraṇa through sattvic karma; merit as a support for spiritual readiness (adhikāritva).
Application: Give with discernment (pātra-śuddhi), humility, and consistency; treat charity as self-purification rather than transaction.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: social-ritual setting (dāna to an arthin)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95 (dāna and dharma context around varna/rites)
FAQs
This verse presents dāna as a dharmic act that purifies the giver and extends its merit to multiple generations of the family line.
It links righteous action (giving to a deserving seeker) with purification and merit, implying that such karma supports spiritual well-being beyond the individual, affecting ancestral lines.
Practice intentional charity to genuinely deserving recipients, treating giving as a disciplined part of dharma rather than a casual or showy act.