Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

ददाति यस्तु विप्राय सर्वं तरति दुष्कृतम् / घृतान्नमुदकं चैव वैशाख्यां च विशेषतः

Transliteration

dadāti yastu viprāya sarvaṃ tarati duṣkṛtam / ghṛtānnamudakaṃ caiva vaiśākhyāṃ ca viśeṣataḥ

Translation

ബ്രാഹ്മണനു ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ എല്ലാ ദുഷ്കൃത്യങ്ങളും കടന്നുപോകുന്നു; പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് വൈശാഖമാസത്തിൽ നെയ്യന്നവും ജലവും അർപ്പിച്ചാൽ।

Word by Word

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः/अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (particle, contrast/emphasis)

• विप्राय: to a Brahmin
• विप्राय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचनम्

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• तरति: crosses over
• तरति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• दुष्कृतम्: sin/evil deed
• दुष्कृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• घृतान्नम्: ghee-rice/food with ghee
• घृतान्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत + अन्न (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (घृतस्य अन्नम्)

• उदकम्: water
• उदकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle)

• वैशाख्याम्: in (the month of) Vaiśākha
• वैशाख्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशाखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: Vaiśākha (month)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna to a worthy recipient (vipra) functions as pāpa-taraṇa (crossing over evil deeds), with special efficacy for ghee-food and water in Vaiśākha.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: purifying action offered with right intention and proper adhikāra (worthy recipient) reduces saṃskāra-burden and supports sattva.

Application: Perform anna-dāna (preferably ghṛta-yukta) and udaka-dāna, especially during Vaiśākha; prioritize respectful giving to learned/ethical brāhmaṇas or qualified spiritual recipients.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-time observance

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Ācāra sections): repeated praise of anna-dāna, udaka-dāna, and seasonal vratas as pāpa-kṣaya

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Vaiśākha (month)

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents dāna to a brāhmaṇa—especially offering ghee-prepared food and water—as a powerful means to overcome accumulated demerit (duṣkṛta).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to karma?

By stating that one “crosses over” sinful deeds through specific charitable acts, it links ethical ritual generosity with karmic purification, supporting a smoother post-death journey by reducing obstructive demerit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform food-and-water charity—especially during Vaiśākha—mindfully and respectfully to qualified recipients, cultivating generosity as a lived practice of dharma.