Shloka 2

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

कृते तपः प्रशंसन्ति त्रेतायां ज्ञानसाधनम् / द्वापरे यज्ञदाने च दानमेकं कलौ युगे

Transliteration

kṛte tapaḥ praśaṃsanti tretāyāṃ jñānasādhanam / dvāpare yajñadāne ca dānamekaṃ kalau yuge

Translation

कृते तपः प्रशंसन्ति, त्रेतायां ज्ञानसाधनम्; द्वापरे यज्ञदानानि, कलौ युगे दानमेव परम्।

Word by Word

• कृते: in the Kṛta (age)
• कृते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; युगविशेष (in Kṛta-yuga)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रशंसन्ति: praise
• प्रशंसन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रेतायाम्: in the Tretā (age)
• त्रेतायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रेता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; युगविशेष (in Tretā-yuga)

• ज्ञानसाधनम्: means of knowledge
• ज्ञानसाधनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान-साधन (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञान + साधन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• द्वापरे: in the Dvāpara (age)
• द्वापरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वापर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; युगविशेष (in Dvāpara-yuga)

• यज्ञदाने: in sacrifice and giving
• यज्ञदाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ-दान (प्रातिपदिक; यज्ञ + दान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• दानम्: charity/giving
• दानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (here as the recommended practice)

• एकम्: alone; the one (means)
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying दानम्)

• कलौ: in the Kali (age)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; युगविशेष (in Kali-yuga)

• युगे: in the age
• युगे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yuga-appropriate sādhanas shift: tapas (Kṛta), jñāna-sādhana (Tretā), yajña and dāna (Dvāpara), and dāna foremost in Kali.

Vedantic Theme: Upāya-kauśalya (skillful means): dharma adapts to human capacity; sattva is supported through giving, enabling bhakti/jñāna.

Application: In Kali-yuga, prioritize consistent charity—food, education, healthcare, protection of vulnerable beings—as a realistic daily dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections praising dāna as a primary remedy in Kali and for post-mortem welfare; Garuda Purana: broader yuga-dharma discussions in didactic passages

Characters & Entities

• Kṛta Yuga
• Tretā Yuga
• Dvāpara Yuga
• Kali Yuga
• Yajña
• Dāna
• Tapas
• Jñāna

FAQs

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

This verse states that in Kali Yuga, dāna is regarded as the single most effective dharmic practice, surpassing the prominence of austerity, knowledge-discipline, and sacrifice emphasized in earlier Yugas.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes like afterlife merit and rites for the departed?

In the Garuda Purana’s broader framework, actions that generate puṇya (merit) support the soul’s welfare and can be dedicated in rites; this verse highlights charity as the most accessible and potent meritorious practice in Kali Yuga.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize consistent, sincere giving—food, support, service, or resources—done ethically and with compassion, treating dāna as a central daily discipline in Kali Yuga.