Shloka 1

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

Devanagari script

नाम पञ्चाशत्तमो ऽध्यायः ब्रह्मोवाच / अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि दानधर्ममनुत्तमम् / अर्थानामुचिते पात्रे श्रद्धया प्रतिपादनम्

Transliteration

nāma pañcāśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ brahmovāca / athātaḥ saṃpravakṣyāmi dānadharmamanuttamam / arthānāmucite pātre śraddhayā pratipādanam

Translation

ब्रह्मोवाच— अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि दानधर्ममनुत्तमम्। अर्थानां यथोचिते पात्रे श्रद्धया प्रतिपादनम्॥

Word by Word

• नाम: (entitled)
• नाम: Discourse marker (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शीर्षक-निर्देशक (title marker/‘named’)

• पञ्चाशत्तमः: fiftieth
• पञ्चाशत्तमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चाशत् + तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचनम्; क्रमवाचक विशेषणम् (ordinal)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचनम्

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचनम्

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), पुरुषः प्रथमः (3rd), वचनम् एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse connector (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• अतः: thereafter
• अतः: Discourse connector (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/अनन्तरार्थ (thereafter/therefore)

• संप्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain fully
• संप्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), पुरुषः उत्तमः (1st), वचनम् एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• दानधर्मम्: the duty/law of giving
• दानधर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed, excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying दानधर्मम्)

• अर्थानाम्: of wealth/things
• अर्थानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचनम्

• उचिते: proper, suitable
• उचिते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उचित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying पात्रे)

• पात्रे: in/for a worthy recipient
• पात्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचनम्

• प्रतिपादनम्: the act of bestowing/presenting
• प्रतिपादनम्: Karma/Predicate nominal (Object or complement/कर्म-प्रत्यय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति + पद् (धातु) + अन (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; भाववाचक कृत् (action-noun/gerundive noun)

Speaker

Brahma

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna is supreme when offered with śraddhā to a suitable and worthy recipient (pātra).

Vedantic Theme: Purification of mind (citta-śuddhi) through selfless giving as a preparatory means toward higher realization.

Application: Give intentionally: assess recipient suitability (need, virtue, right use), offer with faith and respect, and align giving with one’s means.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: teaching assembly (śāstra-kathā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dāna-prakaraṇa discussions on pātra/apātra and śraddhā; Garuda Purana: śrāddha-related dānas as supportive acts

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

This verse frames dāna as an “unsurpassed” dharma, emphasizing that spiritual merit depends not only on giving, but on giving rightly—guided by faith and suitability.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing post-death travel directly, it introduces dāna as a key dharma that generates puṇya (merit), which the Garuda Purana repeatedly treats as supportive for one’s fate and well-being beyond this life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give sincerely (with śraddhā) and responsibly—direct resources to genuinely deserving persons or causes, rather than giving carelessly or for display.