Shloka 3
Bhūmi-dāna, Satya-dharma, and the Non-cancellation of Sin by Charity
नास्ति भमिसमं दानं नास्ति भमिसमो निधिः / नास्ति सत्यसमो धर्मो नानृतात्पातकं परम्
nāsti bhamisamaṃ dānaṃ nāsti bhamisamo nidhiḥ / nāsti satyasamo dharmo nānṛtātpātakaṃ param
No gift equals the gift of land; no treasure equals land itself. No dharma equals truthfulness; and no sin is greater than falsehood.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Satya is the highest dharma; anṛta (falsehood) is the greatest pāpa; bhūmi-dāna is the highest dāna and bhūmi itself the greatest nidhi.
Vedantic Theme: Satya as alignment with ṛta/dharma; purity of speech (vāk-śuddhi) as a prerequisite for inner clarity (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi).
Application: Prioritize truthfulness in speech and dealings; treat land/earth resources as sacred trust; when giving, prefer enduring, livelihood-supporting gifts and avoid deception in contracts, testimony, and promises.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dāna-khaṇḍa/Preta-khaṇḍa passages praising bhūmi-dāna and condemning anṛta)
FAQs
This verse states that truthfulness is the highest form of dharma; it is presented as the strongest moral foundation that supports spiritual merit and right conduct.
In the Preta Kanda’s moral framework, actions and speech create karmic results; by calling falsehood the greatest sin, the text signals that deceit heavily burdens the soul’s post-death journey and accountability.
Practice truthful speech, avoid deliberate deception, and treat charity as sacred—especially supporting others through stable resources—while remembering that integrity is valued above ritual show.