Shloka 12

Devanagari script

द्विजाय यदभीष्टं तु दत्त्वा स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात् / भूदीपांश्चान्नवस्त्राणि सर्पिर्दत्त्वा व्रजेच्छियम्

Transliteration

dvijāya yadabhīṣṭaṃ tu dattvā svargamavāpnuyāt / bhūdīpāṃścānnavastrāṇi sarpirdattvā vrajecchiyam

Translation

Quem dá ao dvija (brâmane) aquilo que ele deseja alcança o céu. Doando terras e lâmpadas, bem como alimento e vestes, e oferecendo ghee, obtém-se prosperidade e fortuna.

Word by Word

• द्विजाय: to a Brahmin (twice-born)
• द्विजाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अभीष्टम्: desired (thing)
• अभीष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; 'यत्' इत्यस्य विशेष्यभावे

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to main verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having given'

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अवाप्नुयात्: may attain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• भूदीपान्: lamps (for the earth/land)
• भूदीपान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू + दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समास: भू-दीप (भूमेः दीपाः)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्नवस्त्राणि: food and clothes
• अन्नवस्त्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: अन्नं च वस्त्राणि च

• सर्पिः: ghee
• सर्पिः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (रूपम्: सर्पिः)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having given'

• व्रजेत्: may go/attain
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शियम्: prosperity/fortune
• शियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (रूपम्: शियम्)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna to a worthy recipient (dvija) produces puṇya leading to svarga and prosperity (śrī).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-niyatitva of karma-phala (results governed by cosmic order).

Application: Practice intentional charity: give what is genuinely needed/desirable (abhīṣṭa) and support essentials—food, clothing, lamps, ghee—without ostentation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Dharma sections): recurring dāna-phala lists; emphasis on anna-dāna, vastra-dāna, ghṛta-dāna

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (Brahmin)

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents dāna as a direct creator of puṇya: giving what is truly needed—especially to a dvija—supports dharma and yields higher results such as svarga (heaven) and śrī (prosperity).

How does this verse explain karmic results (phala) for actions?

It links specific gifts to specific outcomes: fulfilling a worthy recipient’s need leads to svarga, while donating essentials like food, clothing, lamps, land, and ghee is said to generate auspiciousness and material well-being (śrī).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional giving: support genuine religious/ethical learning and donate essentials (food, clothing, light/energy support, and resources) with sincerity, viewing charity as a disciplined dharmic act rather than mere charity for show.