Shloka 39

Moksha and Svarga through Dāna, Tīrtha, Nāma-smaraṇa, and Bhāva

Devanagari script

फल्गु कार्यं परित्यज्य सततं धर्मवान् भवेत् / दानं दमो दया चेति सारमेतत् त्रयं भुवि

Transliteration

phalgu kāryaṃ parityajya satataṃ dharmavān bhavet / dānaṃ damo dayā ceti sārametat trayaṃ bhuvi

Translation

ചെറുതും നിസ്സാരവുമായ കാര്യങ്ങൾ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് മനുഷ്യൻ എപ്പോഴും ധർമ്മത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിതനാകണം. ഈ ഭൂമിയിൽ സാരം ഇതേ ത്രയം—ദാനം, ദമം (സംയമം), ദയ।

Word by Word

• phalgu: trifling/insignificant
• phalgu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phalgu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying kāryam

• kāryam: act/task
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• parityajya: having abandoned
• parityajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√tyaj त्यज् धातु
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; prior action

• satatam: always/constantly
• satatam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण)

• dharmavān: righteous
• dharmavān: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; possessive adjective (मतुप्/वत्)

• bhavet: should be/become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū भू धातु
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (Optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• dānam: charity
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• damaḥ: self-control
• damaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• dayā: compassion
• dayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• sāram: essence
• sāram: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; predicate noun

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; pronoun referring to the triad

• trayam: triad (threefold set)
• trayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; collective numeral

• bhuvi: on earth
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Reject triviality; live dharmically; the essence on earth is the triad—charity, self-restraint, compassion.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya supports: dama (sense-control) and dayā (non-harm/karuṇā) purify antaḥkaraṇa; dāna loosens possessiveness (mamatā) aiding inner freedom.

Application: Audit daily time for ‘phalgu’ distractions; adopt a triad practice: scheduled giving (dāna), daily restraint vows (dama), and intentional acts of compassion (dayā).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: world/realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana ethical summaries where dāna and dayā are praised as dharma-sāra; 2.38.40 elaborating high-fruit forms of dāna and compassionate rites

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna, dama, and dayā in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents them as the core practical essence of dharma—giving, self-restraint, and compassion are portrayed as the most concentrated way to live righteously.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, moral conduct is emphasized as preparation for post-death consequences; cultivating charity, restraint, and compassion supports dharmic merit that influences one’s post-mortem path.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reduce time spent on petty distractions, practice regular giving, discipline habits and senses, and respond to others with compassion—treating these as daily pillars of dharma.