Shloka 2
The Glory of Charity: Land-Gifts, Śālagrāma Donation, and Food–Water as Supreme Gifts
सूत उवाच । क्षितिदानं मुनिश्रेष्ठ दानानामुत्तमं मतम् । येन कृतं वै तद्दानं सर्वदानफलं मतम्
sūta uvāca | kṣitidānaṃ muniśreṣṭha dānānāmuttamaṃ matam | yena kṛtaṃ vai taddānaṃ sarvadānaphalaṃ matam
Sūta disse: Ó melhor dos munis, a doação de terra é tida como a suprema entre as dádivas. Ao realizar tal oferta, considera-se que se obtém o fruto de todas as formas de dar.
Sūta
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dānānāmuttamaṃ = dānānām + uttamam; taddānaṃ = tat + dānam; sarvadānaphalaṃ = sarva-dāna + phalam (compound). kṣitidānaṃ, muniśreṣṭha, sarvadānaphalam are treated as tatpuruṣa compounds.
FAQs
Because land sustains life and livelihood; the verse elevates it as the most impactful form of charity, hence “uttama” among dānas.
It implies that the merit gained from gifting land is treated as equivalent to the combined merit of many other kinds of giving.
It promotes generosity that materially supports others in a lasting way, presenting sustained welfare (through land) as a pinnacle of dharmic giving.