Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

दातव्यं प्रत्यहं पात्रे निमित्तेषु विशेषतः / याचितेनापि दातव्यं श्रद्धापूतं तु शक्तितः

Transliteration

dātavyaṃ pratyahaṃ pātre nimitteṣu viśeṣataḥ / yācitenāpi dātavyaṃ śraddhāpūtaṃ tu śaktitaḥ

Translation

ふさわしい器に、日々施しをなせ。とりわけ定められた機会にはなおさらである。乞われたとしても、力に応じて、信（シュラッダー）により清められた施与を行え。

Word by Word

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रत्यहम्: every day
• प्रत्यहम्: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: every day)

• पात्रे: to/in a worthy recipient
• पात्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• निमित्तेषु: on occasions (special causes)
• निमित्तेषु: Adhikarana (Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: especially)

• याचितेन: when asked/requested
• याचितेन: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √याच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (when requested / by request)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/अपि-निपात (even)

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रद्धापूतम्: purified by faith
• श्रद्धापूतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्धा + पूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पू + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्रद्धया पूतम् = purified by faith)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• शक्तितः: according to one’s capacity
• शक्तितः: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: according to ability)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, typical dialogue frame of the Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nitya and naimittika dāna: give daily to the worthy, especially on prescribed occasions; even when requested, give according to capacity, purified by faith.

Vedantic Theme: Śraddhā as inner purifier (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi) supporting higher pursuit; non-attachment expressed through measured generosity.

Application: Set a daily giving practice (food, alms, service); plan extra giving on festivals/rites; respond to requests with discernment and proportionality, maintaining sincerity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.98.2 (worthy recipient); Garuda Purana 1.98.5–1.98.6 (specific cow-gift procedure)

FAQs

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

This verse frames dāna as a daily dharmic discipline, emphasizing proper recipients (pātra), timely giving on ritual occasions (nimitta), and inner sincerity (śraddhā) as what makes the gift spiritually effective.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing the afterlife directly, it teaches the accumulation of puṇya through correct giving—an ethical foundation the Garuda Purana repeatedly treats as supportive for favorable post-death outcomes and reduced suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give regularly (even small amounts), prioritize truly deserving recipients or meaningful causes, give especially on significant observance days, and keep the intention respectful and sincere—within your means.