Shloka 46

Determination of the Householder’s Dharma

Dāna: Types, Recipients, Timing, and Fruits

Devanagari script

अन्नदाता श्रियं स्वेष्टां गोदो ब्राह्मणविष्टपम् । यानशय्याप्रदो भार्य्यामैश्वर्यमभयप्रदः

Transliteration

annadātā śriyaṃ sveṣṭāṃ godo brāhmaṇaviṣṭapam | yānaśayyāprado bhāryyāmaiśvaryamabhayapradaḥ

Translation

Дающий пищу обретает желанную ему процветающую долю; дающий коров достигает небесного мира брахманов. Дающий повозки и ложа получает супругу; а дарующий бесстрашие обретает владычество и силу.

Word by Word

• अन्नदाता: giver of food
• अन्नदाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न-दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/पुं), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: अन्नं ददाति इति

• श्रियम्: prosperity
• श्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine/स्त्री), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन)

• स्वेष्टाम्: one’s desired
• स्वेष्टाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त used adjectivally)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine/स्त्री), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन); कर्मधारयः: स्वस्य इष्टा (one’s own desired); qualifies श्रियम्

• गोदः: giver of a cow
• गोदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो-द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/पुं), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: गां ददाति इति

• ब्राह्मणविष्टपम्: Brahmin-world/abode of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणविष्टपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण-विश्टप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुं), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ब्राह्मणानां विष्टपम् (world/abode of Brahmins)

• यानशय्याप्रदः: giver of vehicles and beds
• यानशय्याप्रदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यान-शय्या-प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/पुं), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन); द्वन्द्व (itaretara) within: यान + शय्या, then उपपद-तत्पुरुष sense with प्रद: ‘giver of vehicles and beds’

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine/स्त्री), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन)

• ऐश्वर्यम्: lordship/prosperity
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुं), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन)

• अभयप्रदः: giver of fearlessness
• अभयप्रदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय-प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/पुं), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: अभयं प्रददाति इति

Speaker

Not explicitly stated in the provided excerpt (context likely a didactic narration within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue in Svarga-khaṇḍa).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: यānaśayyāprado = यानशय्याप्रदः; भāryyāmaiśvaryamabhayapradaḥ = भार्याम् + ऐश्वर्यम् + अभयप्रदः.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What is the main teaching of this verse?

It teaches the doctrine of dāna-phala: specific gifts (food, cows, vehicles/beds, fearlessness) are said to yield corresponding forms of welfare—prosperity, heavenly attainment, family blessing, and sovereignty.

What does “brāhmaṇa-viṣṭapa” mean here?

It denotes a meritorious heavenly realm associated with brāhmaṇas—i.e., a high, auspicious “world/heaven” attained through the especially praised gift of cows (go-dāna).

How does the verse frame “abhaya-dāna” (giving fearlessness)?

Abhaya-dāna is framed as protection and assurance of safety; the verse states that one who grants fearlessness gains aiśvarya—lordship, authority, and power—highlighting the ethical value of safeguarding others.