Shloka 25

Śrāddha’s Cosmic Reach and Kāla-Nirṇaya (Sacred Timings): Amāvāsyā, Nakṣatra-Yoga, Tīrtha, and Minimum Offerings

Devanagari script

असमर्थो ऽन्नदानस्य धान्यम् आमं स्वशक्तितः प्रदास्यति द्विजाग्रेभ्यः स्वल्पाल्पां वापि दक्षिणाम्

Transliteration

asamartho 'nnadānasya dhānyam āmaṃ svaśaktitaḥ pradāsyati dvijāgrebhyaḥ svalpālpāṃ vāpi dakṣiṇām

Translation

If one is not capable of giving prepared food, then according to one’s own capacity one should offer uncooked grain to the foremost of the twice-born; or, even a very small honorarium (dakṣiṇā) may be given.

Word by Word

• असमर्थः: unable
• असमर्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (unable)

• अन्न-दानस्य: of giving food
• अन्न-दानस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• धान्यम्: grain
• धान्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• आमम्: raw
• आमम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (raw, uncooked)

• स्व-शक्तितः: according to his own ability
• स्व-शक्तितः: Adhikarana (Adverbial/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/तद्धितान्त अव्यय; अर्थः—स्वशक्तितः (from/according to one’s own ability)

• प्रदास्यति: will give
• प्रदास्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (he will give)

• द्विज-अग्रेभ्यः: to the foremost twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विज-अग्रेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Dative plural)

• स्वल्प-अल्पाम्: a very small
• स्वल्प-अल्पाम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (very small)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (also/even)

• दक्षिणाम्: a gift/fee (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Graduated alternatives in charity when one cannot provide cooked food (anna-dāna)

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When full hospitality is impossible, dharma permits simpler substitutes—raw grain or even a small dakṣiṇā—so that intention and continuity of giving are preserved.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: If you cannot offer ‘ideal’ service, offer a simpler equivalent (staples, small donation, or practical help) without abandoning the practice.

Vishishtadvaita: In qualified non-dualism, the Lord’s grace makes even small acts efficacious when aligned with śraddhā and proper intention.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Dvijas (twice-born)
• Brāhmaṇas (implied: dvijāgrebhyaḥ)

FAQs

What is the significance of offering raw grain instead of cooked food in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse teaches that when annadāna (cooked food-giving) is not possible, giving uncooked grain is a valid, dharmic alternative—so charity remains accessible and aligned with one’s capacity.

How does Sage Parāśara explain charity according to one’s ability (svaśakti)?

He frames dāna as capacity-based: if the ideal form cannot be performed, one should still give what is feasible—grain or even a small dakṣiṇā—so the duty of generosity is not abandoned.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context of dāna and dharma?

By prescribing sustainable, intention-driven charity, the teaching supports dharma as the order upheld under Vishnu’s sovereignty—where maintaining social and ritual harmony becomes an indirect form of devotion and alignment with the Supreme Reality.