Shloka 42
Āyuḥ-kṣaya by Vikarma; Impermanence of the Body; Aśauca and Child Śrāddha Procedures; Dāna as Remedy
तस्मै यद्रोचते देयमदत्त्वा निर्धने कुले / स्वल्पायुर्निर्धनो भूत्वा रतिभक्तिविवर्जितः
tasmai yadrocate deyamadattvā nirdhane kule / svalpāyurnirdhano bhūtvā ratibhaktivivarjitaḥ
അതുകൊണ്ട്, അവനു പ്രിയവും യോജ്യവും ആയതു തന്നെ ദാനമായി നൽകണം. ദാനം നൽകാതിരുന്നാൽ മനുഷ്യൻ ദരിദ്രകുലത്തിൽ ജനിച്ച്, അല്പായുസ്സും ദാരിദ്ര്യവും പ്രാപിച്ച്, പ്രേമവും ഭക്തിയും നഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നു।
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Failure to give (adāna) produces adverse karmic results: low birth, poverty, short lifespan, and diminished capacity for love/bhakti.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala governs embodied conditions; generosity loosens grasping (lobha) and supports sattva conducive to devotion and insight.
Application: Practice timely, considerate giving—offer what truly benefits and pleases the recipient; avoid habitual withholding that hardens the heart and invites social/spiritual impoverishment.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana dāna-phala and adāna-doṣa discussions; Garuda Purana statements linking charity with longevity, prosperity, and devotional capacity
FAQs
This verse frames dāna as a direct dharmic duty: giving what is appropriate and pleasing supports merit, while refusal to give creates karmic results such as poverty, shortened lifespan, and loss of affectionate and devotional disposition.
In the Preta Kanda’s moral logic, actions around giving and withholding shape future embodiment; the verse states that non-giving conditions the next birth toward deprivation—material (poverty), vital (short life), and emotional-spiritual (lack of love and bhakti).
Practice intentional giving—offer help in a form that truly benefits the recipient (food, support, resources), and cultivate generosity as a daily discipline to strengthen dharma and reduce self-centered habits.