Shloka 109

गृहस्थस्य सदाचारः: शौच, तर্পण, वैश्वदेव, अतिथिधर्म, भोजन-विधि, संध्योपासन, ऋतु-धर्मः

Devanagari script

अन्नशाकाम्बुदानेन स्वशक्त्या प्रीणयेत् पुमान् शयनप्रस्तरमहीप्रदानैर् अथवापि तम्

Transliteration

annaśākāmbudānena svaśaktyā prīṇayet pumān śayanaprastaramahīpradānair athavāpi tam

Translation

A person, according to his capacity, should gladden and support the worthy recipient by gifting food, vegetables, and water—or else by offering a bed, a resting place, or even land as a gift.

Word by Word

• anna-śāka-ambu-dānena: by gifts of food, vegetables, and water
• anna-śāka-ambu-dānena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक) + śāka (प्रातिपदिक) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (instrumental): 'by giving food, vegetables, and water' (dvandva within + dāna as head)

• sva-śaktyā: with one’s capacity
• sva-śaktyā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण: 'according to one’s ability'

• prīṇayet: should satisfy
• prīṇayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prīṇ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'should please/satisfy'

• pumān: a man
• pumān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān/puṃs (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• śayana-prastara-mahī-pradānaiḥ: by gifts of a bed, bedding, and ground/space
• śayana-prastara-mahī-pradānaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayana (प्रातिपदिक) + prastara (प्रातिपदिक) + mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + pradāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण: 'by (acts of) giving bed, bedding/covering, and ground/space' (dvandva items with pradāna)

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Discourse connector (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive: 'or else')

• api: also/even
• api: Discourse particle (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• tam: him (that guest)
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object: the guest)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Concrete forms of dāna and support for the worthy recipient/guest according to capacity

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: practical

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Charity should be adapted to one’s means—food, vegetables, water, shelter, bedding, or land—so that the recipient is genuinely sustained and pleased.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Give regularly at a sustainable level: food/water first, then shelter/comfort; prioritize usefulness over display.

Vishishtadvaita: Svaśakti-dāna aligns with śeṣatva (servanthood): one offers resources as the Lord’s trust, supporting His dependents without egoistic excess.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: dasya

FAQs

What is the significance of giving food and water in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats anna (food) and ambu (water) as primary forms of dharmic charity—basic gifts that sustain life and therefore generate merit when offered according to one’s means.

How does Sage Parāśara frame charity (dāna) in this passage?

Parāśara emphasizes proportionality and sincerity—one should give ‘svaśaktyā’ (within one’s capacity), whether simple necessities like food and water or larger gifts like bedding, resting places, or land.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the teaching aligns with Vaishnava dharma: sustaining beings through compassionate giving supports the cosmic order ultimately rooted in the Supreme Reality (Vishnu).