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Shloka 5

Dāna-dharma: Threefold Classification, Right Recipients, Auspicious Timing, and Fruits of Gifts

Devanagari script

अहन्यहनि यत्किञ्चिद्दीयते ऽनुपकारिणे / अनुद्दिश्य फलं तस्माद्ब्राह्मणाय तु नित्यशः

Transliteration

ahanyahani yatkiñciddīyate 'nupakāriṇe / anuddiśya phalaṃ tasmādbrāhmaṇāya tu nityaśaḥ

Translation

O que se dá dia após dia a quem não pode retribuir—sem visar qualquer recompensa—frutifica; por isso, deve-se dar regularmente a um brāhmaṇa.

Word by Word
अहनिin a day
अहनि:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootअहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावे (locative of time) = 'in the day'
अहनिday after day
अहनि:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootअहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication) = 'day after day'
यत्whatever
यत्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)
किञ्चित्anything (some)
किञ्चित्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite)
दीयतेis given
दीयते:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootदा (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
अनुपकारिणेto one who is not a benefactor (who gives no return)
अनुपकारिणे:
Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootअनुपकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/साधारण, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; 'one who does no service/return'
अनुद्दिश्यwithout dedicating (to a specific person)
अनुद्दिश्य:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootउद्√दिश् (धातु) + अनु (उपसर्ग)
Formक्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; 'having not specified/dedicated (to someone)'
फलम्fruit, result
फलम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootफल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन
तस्मात्therefore, from that (reason)
तस्मात्:
Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause)
ब्राह्मणायto a Brahmin
ब्राह्मणाय:
Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन
तुbut/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधानार्थ/विरोधार्थ (emphasis/contrast particle)
नित्यशःalways, regularly
नित्यशः:
Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनित्यशस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nishkama-dana: giving to one who cannot reciprocate, without aiming at reward, still yields fruit; regular giving is enjoined.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-shuddhi through selfless action; karma performed without personal claim prepares the mind for higher knowledge.

Application: Set a small daily giving practice (food, study-support, service) with explicit inner resolve: ‘no return expected’; prioritize recipients who preserve learning/ethical life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma/Daana sections): tri-fold dana (nitya/naimittika/kamya) context continued in 1.51.6-1.51.8

Characters & Entities
B
Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

This verse emphasizes that charity offered without expectation—especially to someone who cannot repay—still yields spiritual fruit, highlighting intention (bhāva) as central to dharmic giving.

By stating that such giving ‘bears fruit’ (phala), the verse frames selfless charity as a karmically potent act that generates merit through purity of motive rather than transactional exchange.

Practice regular, modest giving—food, support, or service—without publicity or expectation, prioritizing recipients who cannot repay and keeping the act rooted in duty and compassion.

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