Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

यानशय्याप्रदो भार्यामैश्वर्यमभयप्रदः / धान्यदः शावतं सौख्यं ब्रह्मदो ब्रह्म शाश्वतम्

Transliteration

yānaśayyāprado bhāryāmaiśvaryamabhayapradaḥ / dhānyadaḥ śāvataṃ saukhyaṃ brahmado brahma śāśvatam

Translation

Il devient donateur de véhicules et de lits; il obtient une épouse, la prospérité et l’absence de crainte. Il devient donateur de grains, atteint un bonheur durable et, en accordant la connaissance sacrée, parvient au Brahman éternel.

Word by Word

• yāna-śayyā-pradaḥ: giver of vehicles and beds
• yāna-śayyā-pradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāna (प्रातिपदिक) + śayyā (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक, √dā-प्रदानार्थक धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (याने च शय्यायां च प्रदः)

• bhāryām: a wife
• bhāryām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• aiśvaryam: prosperity, lordship
• aiśvaryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• abhaya-pradaḥ: giver of fearlessness
• abhaya-pradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक, √dā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अभयं प्रदः)

• dhānya-daḥ: giver of grain
• dhānya-daḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhānya (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक, √dā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धान्यं ददाति)

• śāvatam: lasting, perpetual
• śāvatam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāvatá (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सौख्यम् इति)

• saukhyaṃ: happiness
• saukhyaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• brahma-daḥ: giver of Brahman/knowledge
• brahma-daḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक, √dā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्म ददाति)

• brahma: Brahman, sacred knowledge
• brahma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• śāśvatam: eternal
• śāśvatam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्म इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna yields graded fruits: comforts and security, then enduring happiness, and ultimately brahma-prāpti when the gift is brahma-jñāna.

Vedantic Theme: Karma purified by sattva and jñāna-dāna becomes a proximate cause for brahma-sākṣātkāra (brahma-prāpti as highest phala).

Application: Practice targeted charity (beds, conveyance, grain) and especially support teaching/learning of śāstra; cultivate fearlessness by giving and by supporting dharma-education.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.51 (dāna-phala sequence continuing in 1.51.26–29)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

FAQs

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

This verse presents dāna as a direct cause of puṇya: giving comforts (beds, conveyances) and sustenance (grain) yields worldly stability (prosperity, safety) and culminates in higher spiritual attainment when the gift is sacred knowledge (brahma-dāna).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana terms?

While not describing Yama’s realm directly, it links one’s posthumous well-being to dharmic causes created in life—puṇya from giving produces fearlessness and lasting happiness, and brahma-dāna elevates the soul toward Brahman.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice regular giving: provide food/grain to those in need, support rest and shelter (beds), and share education or spiritual learning—cultivating both social welfare and inner growth.