Shloka 10

Dāna-vidhi: Pātra-nirṇaya, Go-dāna-mahima, and Rules of Acceptance

Devanagari script

यथा कथञ्चिद्दत्त्वा गान्धेनुं वाधेनुमेव वा / अरोगामपरिक्लिष्टां दाता स्वर्गे महीयते

Transliteration

yathā kathañciddattvā gāndhenuṃ vādhenumeva vā / arogāmaparikliṣṭāṃ dātā svarge mahīyate

Translation

કોઈ રીતે પણ જો દૂધાળ ગાય કે સામાન્ય ગાય દાન કરવામાં આવે, અને તે નિરોગી તથા અક્લેશિત હોય, તો દાતા સ્વર્ગમાં મહિમાવાન થાય છે.

Word by Word

• यथा: in whatever way
• यथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (in whatever manner/as)

• कथञ्चित्: somehow
• कथञ्चित्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथञ्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चित-प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (somehow/by any means)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having given)

• गान्धेनुम्: a milch-cow
• गान्धेनुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गा (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव (cow that is a milch-cow)

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

• धेनुम्: a cow
• धेनुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (indeed/just)

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

• अरोगाम्: disease-free
• अरोगाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्-प्रत्यय) + रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; धेनुं/गान्धेनुं विशेषयति

• अपरिक्लिष्टाम्: not afflicted; untroubled
• अपरिक्लिष्टाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्-प्रत्यय) + परि + क्लिश् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त; धेनुं/गान्धेनुं विशेषयति

• दाता: the giver
• दाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक; √दा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• स्वर्गे: in heaven
• स्वर्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• महीयते: is honored
• महीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is honored/glorified)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even imperfect circumstances do not nullify merit if the gift is ethically sound (healthy, not afflicted) and sincerely offered.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of sattvic intention and ahiṃsā within karma; purity of means conditions purity of result.

Application: Do good within one’s capacity, but never by transferring suffering; ensure what you donate is functional, safe, and not a burden to the recipient.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realm (result)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.98 (go-dāna conditions and phala)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the importance of go-dāna (cow donation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that donating a healthy, untroubled cow generates great merit, leading to honor in Svarga—showing go-dāna as a high-value dharmic charity.

How does this verse relate to afterlife outcomes described in the Garuda Purana?

The verse links charitable giving (dāna) to post-death reward: the donor is ‘mahīyate’ (exalted) in heaven, reinforcing karma-based results central to Garuda Purana teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give responsibly: ensure donations do not cause harm—support ethical cow care, shelters, or sustenance charities in ways that keep the recipient (or supported animal) healthy and unburdened.