Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

भूमिदानात्परं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति / विद्यां दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणाय ब्रह्मलोके महीयते

Transliteration

bhūmidānātparaṃ dānaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati / vidyāṃ dattvā brāhmaṇāya brahmaloke mahīyate

Translation

భూమిదానముకన్నా మించిన దానం ఎప్పుడూ లేదు, ఇకముందూ ఉండదు. బ్రాహ్మణునికి విద్యను దానం చేస్తే బ్రహ్మలోకంలో గౌరవింపబడతాడు.

Word by Word

• भूमिदानात्: from land-gift (land donation)
• भूमिदानात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमिदान (भूमि + दान; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/तसिल्-अर्थे), एकवचन; Ablative singular (from)

• परम्: higher, superior
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (qualifying दानम्)

• दानम्: gift, charity
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय; negation particle

• भूतम्: (has) been, existed (in the past)
• भूतम्: Karma (Predicate/कर्म-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (predicate nominal)

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय; negation particle

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्काल), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Simple future, 3rd person singular

• विद्याम्: knowledge, learning
• विद्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (तुमुन्-न), पूर्वकालिक क्रियाविशेषण; Absolutive/gerund “having given”

• ब्राह्मणाय: to a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular

• ब्रह्मलोके: in Brahma’s world
• ब्रह्मलोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मलोक (ब्रह्मन् + लोक; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• महीयते: is honored, is glorified
• महीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; Present, 3rd person singular, middle/passive sense

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna-śreṣṭhatā (supremacy of land-gift) and vidyā-dāna leading to exaltation in Brahmaloka.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa merit (puṇya) yielding higher lokas; honoring knowledge as a purifier and elevating act.

Application: Support education and learned teachers; practice ethical giving (land/resources/learning) with right recipient and intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: loka (abode)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (dāna-mahimā sections; brāhmaṇa-bhojana and dāna-phala passages in Preta/Dharma-kāṇḍa)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmaloka
• Brahmā
• Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of bhūmi-dāna (gift of land) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that no charity is higher than donating land, presenting it as an unsurpassed source of puṇya within the Purāṇic dharma framework.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Rather than describing punishments or the preta-journey here, the verse highlights how specific meritorious acts (like vidyā-dāna) lead to exalted post-death destinations such as Brahmaloka.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support dharmic causes through responsible giving (including land/resources when appropriate) and prioritize vidyā-dāna—funding education, preserving śāstra-learning, and sharing knowledge ethically.