Shloka 4

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

गोभूतिलहिरण्याज्यवासोधन्यगुडास्तथा / रजतं लवणं चैव दानानि दश वै विदुः

Transliteration

gobhūtilahiraṇyājyavāsodhanyaguḍāstathā / rajataṃ lavaṇaṃ caiva dānāni daśa vai viduḥ

Translation

ଗୋ, ଭୂମି, ତିଳ, ହିରଣ୍ୟ, ଘୃତ, ବସ୍ତ୍ର, ଧାନ୍ୟ, ଗୁଡ଼, ରଜତ ଓ ଲବଣ—ଏହି ଦଶଟିକୁ ଦାନ ଭାବେ ଜ୍ଞାନୀମାନେ କହନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• गो: cow
• गो: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (क्वचित् पुं), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; समाहार-निर्देशे सूचीपद

• भू: land
• भू: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; (भूमिः)

• तिल: sesame
• तिल: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• हिरण्य: gold
• हिरण्य: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• आज्य: ghee
• आज्य: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• वासः: cloth/garment
• वासः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस् (धातु) → वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• धान्य: grain
• धान्य: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• गुडाः: jaggery (lumps)
• गुडाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सूचीपद

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यतावाचक (and likewise)

• रजतम्: silver
• रजतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लवणम्: salt
• लवणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction: and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic: just/indeed)

• दानानि: gifts
• दानानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; दानानि इति विशेषणम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed)

• विदुः: they know/declare
• विदुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), तृतीयपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Daśa-dāna: ten principal gifts that generate merit and support ritual/social welfare.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier; offering of resources reduces possessiveness (aparigraha tendency).

Application: Channel charity into essentials: food security, clothing, agricultural support, and community resources; give responsibly and transparently.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: daśa-dāna lists used in prāyaścitta/śrāddha contexts; Garuda Purana: Vaitaraṇī-godāna discussed nearby as special dāna

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the ten dānas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies the core set of ten traditional charitable gifts regarded as especially meritorious; in the Preta Kanda context, such dāna supports dharmic merit connected with funeral and śrāddha-related duties.

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

In the Preta Kanda, guidance on dāna is presented as a supportive dharmic practice surrounding post-death rites; the verse frames which offerings are considered primary when performing prescribed duties for the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

One can practice ethical charity by giving essentials—food grains, clothing, and other necessities—according to capacity and with sincerity, aligning generosity with dharma while observing family traditions around śrāddha.