Shloka 34

Vidura’s Questions: How the Unchangeable Lord Relates to Māyā; Bhakti as the Remedy; Blueprint for the Coming Cosmology

Devanagari script

दानस्य तपसो वापि यच्चेष्टापूर्तयो: फलम् । प्रवासस्थस्य यो धर्मो यश्च पुंस उतापदि ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

dānasya tapaso vāpi yac ceṣṭā-pūrtayoḥ phalam pravāsa-sthasya yo dharmo yaś ca puṁsa utāpadi

Translation

ଦାନ, ତପସ୍ୟା ଓ ଇଷ୍ଟାପୂର୍ତ୍ତ (ଯେପରି ଜଳାଶୟ ଖୋଦନ ଇତ୍ୟାଦି)ର ଫଳ, ଏବଂ ଘରୁ ଦୂରେ ଥିବା ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିର ଧର୍ମ, ତଥା ଆପଦାରେ ପଡ଼ିଥିବା ପୁରୁଷର କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ମଧ୍ୟ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରନ୍ତୁ।

Synonyms

• dānasya: of charity/giving
• dānasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी/6th), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• tapasaḥ: of austerity
• tapasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी/6th), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-nipāta (विकल्प-निपात/Disjunctive particle)

• api: also; even
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya/Anvaya-nipāta (समुच्चय/अन्वय-निपात), enclitic particle

• yat: which (that)
• yat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• ceṣṭā-pūrtayoḥ: of (pious) personal efforts and public works
• ceṣṭā-pūrtayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ceṣṭā + pūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) (head: ceṣṭā), Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी/6th), Dvivacana (द्विवचन); समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• phalam: the result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• pravāsa-sthasya: of one staying away (in exile/abroad)
• pravāsa-sthasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pravāsa + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी/6th), Ekavacana (एकवचन); समासः—सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (pravāse sthitaḥ) used as adjective

• yaḥ: which
• yaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st), Ekavacana (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• dharmaḥ: duty/law
• dharmaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• yaḥ: which
• yaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st), Ekavacana (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात/Conjunction)

• puṁsaḥ: of a man/person
• puṁsaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṁs (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी/6th), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• uta: and also; moreover
• uta: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uta (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya/Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (समुच्चय/अवधारण-निपात), particle

• āpadi: in calamity/distress
• āpadi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Saptamī (सप्तमी/7th Locative), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Purport

The digging of reservoirs of water for public use is a great work of charity, and retiring from family life after fifty years of age is a great act of penance performed by the sober human being.

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• Maitreya

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the results of charity and austerity?

In this verse Vidura asks Maitreya to explain the specific “phala” (results) of dāna (charity) and tapas (austerity), indicating that the Bhagavatam treats these acts as meaningful when understood in relation to dharma and higher spiritual purpose.

Why did Vidura ask Maitreya about dharma in calamity and while living away from home?

Because Vidura is systematically inquiring into practical dharma for different life-situations—ordinary duty, duty during travel/exile, and duty during crisis—so that spiritual life is guided even under changing external conditions.

How can I apply “dharma in adversity” from Bhagavatam in modern life?

Maintain integrity and devotion-centered priorities during disruption: continue essential responsibilities, avoid impulsive sinful choices in stress, and use hardship to deepen steadiness (tapas) and generosity (dāna) rather than resentment.