Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

यानशय्याप्रदो भार्यामैश्वर्यमभयप्रदः / धान्यदः शावतं सौख्यं ब्रह्मदो ब्रह्म शाश्वतम्

Transliteration

yānaśayyāprado bhāryāmaiśvaryamabhayapradaḥ / dhānyadaḥ śāvataṃ saukhyaṃ brahmado brahma śāśvatam

Translation

വാഹനവും ശയ്യയും ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നവന് ഭാര്യ, ഐശ്വര്യം, അഭയം ലഭിക്കുന്നു. ധാന്യദാനത്തോടെ ശാശ്വതസുഖം ലഭിക്കും; ബ്രഹ്മജ്ഞാനം ദാനം ചെയ്‌താൽ നിത്യബ്രഹ്മത്തെ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• yāna-śayyā-pradaḥ: giver of vehicles and beds
• yāna-śayyā-pradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāna (प्रातिपदिक) + śayyā (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक, √dā-प्रदानार्थक धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (याने च शय्यायां च प्रदः)

• bhāryām: a wife
• bhāryām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• aiśvaryam: prosperity, lordship
• aiśvaryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• abhaya-pradaḥ: giver of fearlessness
• abhaya-pradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक, √dā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अभयं प्रदः)

• dhānya-daḥ: giver of grain
• dhānya-daḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhānya (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक, √dā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धान्यं ददाति)

• śāvatam: lasting, perpetual
• śāvatam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāvatá (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सौख्यम् इति)

• saukhyaṃ: happiness
• saukhyaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• brahma-daḥ: giver of Brahman/knowledge
• brahma-daḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक, √dā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्म ददाति)

• brahma: Brahman, sacred knowledge
• brahma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• śāśvatam: eternal
• śāśvatam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्म इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna yields graded fruits: comforts and security, then enduring happiness, and ultimately brahma-prāpti when the gift is brahma-jñāna.

Vedantic Theme: Karma purified by sattva and jñāna-dāna becomes a proximate cause for brahma-sākṣātkāra (brahma-prāpti as highest phala).

Application: Practice targeted charity (beds, conveyance, grain) and especially support teaching/learning of śāstra; cultivate fearlessness by giving and by supporting dharma-education.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.51 (dāna-phala sequence continuing in 1.51.26–29)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

FAQs

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

This verse presents dāna as a direct cause of puṇya: giving comforts (beds, conveyances) and sustenance (grain) yields worldly stability (prosperity, safety) and culminates in higher spiritual attainment when the gift is sacred knowledge (brahma-dāna).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana terms?

While not describing Yama’s realm directly, it links one’s posthumous well-being to dharmic causes created in life—puṇya from giving produces fearlessness and lasting happiness, and brahma-dāna elevates the soul toward Brahman.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice regular giving: provide food/grain to those in need, support rest and shelter (beds), and share education or spiritual learning—cultivating both social welfare and inner growth.