Shloka 10

Dāna-vidhi: Pātra-nirṇaya, Go-dāna-mahima, and Rules of Acceptance

Devanagari script

यथा कथञ्चिद्दत्त्वा गान्धेनुं वाधेनुमेव वा / अरोगामपरिक्लिष्टां दाता स्वर्गे महीयते

Transliteration

yathā kathañciddattvā gāndhenuṃ vādhenumeva vā / arogāmaparikliṣṭāṃ dātā svarge mahīyate

Translation

Walau dengan apa cara sekalipun seseorang mendermakan seekor lembu perah (gā-dhenu) atau lembu biasa, asalkan ia sihat dan tidak menderita, si penderma dimuliakan serta ditinggikan di syurga.

Word by Word

• यथा: in whatever way
• यथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (in whatever manner/as)

• कथञ्चित्: somehow
• कथञ्चित्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथञ्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चित-प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (somehow/by any means)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having given)

• गान्धेनुम्: a milch-cow
• गान्धेनुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गा (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव (cow that is a milch-cow)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• धेनुम्: a cow
• धेनुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (indeed/just)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• अरोगाम्: disease-free
• अरोगाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्-प्रत्यय) + रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; धेनुं/गान्धेनुं विशेषयति

• अपरिक्लिष्टाम्: not afflicted; untroubled
• अपरिक्लिष्टाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्-प्रत्यय) + परि + क्लिश् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त; धेनुं/गान्धेनुं विशेषयति

• दाता: the giver
• दाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक; √दा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• स्वर्गे: in heaven
• स्वर्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• महीयते: is honored
• महीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is honored/glorified)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even imperfect circumstances do not nullify merit if the gift is ethically sound (healthy, not afflicted) and sincerely offered.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of sattvic intention and ahiṃsā within karma; purity of means conditions purity of result.

Application: Do good within one’s capacity, but never by transferring suffering; ensure what you donate is functional, safe, and not a burden to the recipient.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realm (result)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.98 (go-dāna conditions and phala)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the importance of go-dāna (cow donation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that donating a healthy, untroubled cow generates great merit, leading to honor in Svarga—showing go-dāna as a high-value dharmic charity.

How does this verse relate to afterlife outcomes described in the Garuda Purana?

The verse links charitable giving (dāna) to post-death reward: the donor is ‘mahīyate’ (exalted) in heaven, reinforcing karma-based results central to Garuda Purana teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give responsibly: ensure donations do not cause harm—support ethical cow care, shelters, or sustenance charities in ways that keep the recipient (or supported animal) healthy and unburdened.