Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

भूमिदः सर्वमाप्नोति दीर्घमायुर्हिरण्यदः / गृहदो ऽग्र्याणि वेश्मानि रूप्यदो रूपमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

bhūmidaḥ sarvamāpnoti dīrghamāyurhiraṇyadaḥ / gṛhado 'gryāṇi veśmāni rūpyado rūpamuttamam

Translation

ഭൂമിദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ എല്ലാം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു; ഹിരണ്യദാനം (സ്വർണം) ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ ദീർഘായുസ്സ് പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു. ഗൃഹദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ ശ്രേഷ്ഠമായ വാസഗൃഹങ്ങൾ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു; രൂപ്യദാനം (വെള്ളി) ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ ഉത്തമ രൂപം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• भूमि-दः: giver of land
• भूमि-दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; दा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (भूमिं ददाति इति)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present Indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• दीर्घम्: long
• दीर्घम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying आयुः)

• आयुः: life-span
• आयुः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हिरण्य-दः: giver of gold
• हिरण्य-दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; दा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (हिरण्यं ददाति इति)

• गृह-दः: giver of a house
• गृह-दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; दा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (गृहं ददाति इति)

• अग्र्याणि: excellent, foremost
• अग्र्याणि: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वेश्मानि)

• वेश्मानि: mansions/dwellings
• वेश्मानि: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• रूप्य-दः: giver of silver
• रूप्य-दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप्य (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; दा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (रूप्यं ददाति इति)

• रूपम्: beauty/form
• रूपम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying रूपम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Great gifts yield great fruits: land→all attainments, gold→long life, house→excellent dwellings, silver→superior beauty.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and loka-sangraha: wealth used in dharma becomes a means of purification and welfare.

Application: Use resources for lasting benefit—support housing, land stewardship, and endowments; give proportionate to capacity with right intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.51.22 (basic dana); Garuda Purana 1.51.24 (dana leading to specific lokas)

FAQs

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

This verse states that specific gifts (land, gold, house, silver) produce corresponding fruits—overall prosperity, longevity, superior residence, and beauty—showing dāna as a core dharmic practice that generates puṇya.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking charitable acts to meritorious outcomes, it implies that one’s post-death condition and overall destiny are shaped by karma—especially dharmic giving that builds spiritual merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional giving: support housing/shelter, donate resources responsibly, and share wealth for welfare—treating generosity as a disciplined dharmic habit rather than occasional charity.