Shloka 66
Kāraṇa-vyākhyā: Cosmic Agents, Rudra-Forms, Sense-Purity, and Ānanda-Tāratamya
दास्ये चाहं सत्सु पुत्रीं धनं वा दास्ये चाहं धनिकेष्वेव नित्यम् / अदृष्टशून्यान् भगवान्वासुदेवो दृष्ट्वादृष्ट्वा हसते सर्वदैव
dāsye cāhaṃ satsu putrīṃ dhanaṃ vā dāsye cāhaṃ dhanikeṣveva nityam / adṛṣṭaśūnyān bhagavānvāsudevo dṛṣṭvādṛṣṭvā hasate sarvadaiva
“ನಾನು ಸತ್ಪುರುಷರ ನಡುವೆ ದಾನ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ—ಕನ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು (ವಿವಾಹಾರ್ಥ) ಅಥವಾ ಧನವನ್ನು; ಧನಿಕರಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ನಿತ್ಯ ದಾನ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ.” ಇಂತಹ ಸತ್ಯದೃಷ್ಟಿ-ಶೂನ್ಯರನ್ನು ಮರುಮರು ನೋಡಿ ಭಗವಾನ್ ವಾಸುದೇವನು ಸದಾ ನಗುತ್ತಾನೆ.
Lord Vishnu (Vāsudeva), instructing Garuda in the Preta Kanda discourse
Concept: Dāna without right intention and discernment becomes performative; lack of true insight (adṛṣṭa/atattva-jñāna) invites divine censure.
Vedantic Theme: Avidyā and ahaṅkāra distort dharma; outer action without inner purity does not yield the highest good.
Application: Give without vanity or social calculation; prioritize sāttvika charity and cultivate discernment through śāstra and satsanga.
Primary Rasa: hasya
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Dharma sections): critiques of hypocritical dharma and fruit-motivated acts; Garuda Purana: emphasis on bhakti as purifier beyond mere ritualism
FAQs
The verse critiques giving that is driven by social display or misplaced preference (even “among the rich”), emphasizing that without true insight (adṛṣṭa), charity becomes spiritually hollow despite appearing virtuous.
In the Garuda Purana’s ethical framework, actions shape post-death outcomes, but inner motive and discernment matter; performative or confused “good deeds” reflect ignorance, which binds one to repeated karmic patterns rather than liberation-oriented merit.
Give with humility and clarity: support truly deserving causes, avoid charity for status, and cultivate right understanding alongside good deeds—so dharma becomes transformative rather than merely transactional.