Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

दानधर्मात्परो धर्मो भूतानां नहे विद्यते / स्वर्गायुर्भूतिकामेन दानं पापोपशान्तये

Transliteration

dānadharmātparo dharmo bhūtānāṃ nahe vidyate / svargāyurbhūtikāmena dānaṃ pāpopaśāntaye

Translation

Para los seres vivientes no hay dharma más alto que el dharma de la dádiva. Para quien desea el cielo, larga vida y prosperidad, la caridad se prescribe como medio para apaciguar los pecados.

Word by Word

• दानधर्मात्: than the duty of giving (charity)
• दानधर्मात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (दानस्य धर्मः); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• परः: higher
• परः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तुलनाबोधक विशेषण ‘higher/superior’

• धर्मः: duty/dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• भूतानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Negation (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• ए: (particle)
• ए: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ए (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; here with ह = ‘haiva/indeed’)

• विद्यते: exists/is found
• विद्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु, ‘to exist/ be found’ in Ātmanepada usage)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• स्वर्गायुर्भूतिकामेन: by one who desires heaven, longevity, and prosperity
• स्वर्गायुर्भूतिकामेन: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + भूति (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (स्वर्गं च आयुश्च भूति च—एतानि कामयते इति); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘by one desiring heaven, long life, and prosperity’

• दानम्: charity/gift
• दानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पापोपशान्तये: for the pacification of sins
• पापोपशान्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + उपशान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (पापस्य उपशान्तिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ दत्तिः

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (addressing Garuḍa, Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna is the highest dharma; it yields svarga, āyus, bhūti and serves as pāpa-upaśamana (sin pacification).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: selfless giving purifies and supports higher pursuits; puṇya as a preparatory aid toward inner clarity.

Application: Make regular charity a disciplined practice; give food, resources, and support to reduce harm and cultivate sattva; dedicate results to īśvara.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated praise of dāna as purifier and support for post-mortem welfare (general)

FAQs

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

This verse ranks dāna-dharma as the highest dharma for beings and presents charity as a direct practice for generating merit and calming sinful reactions (pāpa).

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing pāpa-upaśānti (pacification of sin), the verse supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that reducing demerit and increasing puṇya improves post-death outcomes such as favorable realms (svarga) and overall spiritual well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice regular, sincere giving—food, support, resources, or service—done ethically and without harm, as a daily dharmic discipline to cultivate merit and lessen negative karmic tendencies.