Shloka 7

Dāna-vidhi: Pātra-nirṇaya, Go-dāna-mahima, and Rules of Acceptance

Devanagari script

स्वर्णपिप्पलपात्रेण वत्सो वा वत्सिकापि वा / अस्या अपि च दातव्यमपत्यं रोगवर्जितम्

Transliteration

svarṇapippalapātreṇa vatso vā vatsikāpi vā / asyā api ca dātavyamapatyaṃ rogavarjitam

Translation

పిప్పల (అశ్వత్థ) ఆకులతో రూపొందించిన స్వర్ణపాత్రంతో దూడను—మగదైనా ఆడదైనా—దానం చేయాలి; అలాగే ఆ గోవుకు కూడా రోగరహిత సంతానాన్ని దానంగా ఇవ్వాలి.

Word by Word

• स्वर्णपिप्पलपात्रेण: with a golden pippala-leaf vessel
• स्वर्णपिप्पलपात्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + पिप्पल (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण-कारक (instrumental)

• वत्सः: a calf
• वत्सः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• वत्सिका: a heifer (female calf)
• वत्सिका: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अवधारणार्थक-निपात (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• अस्याः: of her
• अस्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अवधारणार्थक-निपात (also/even)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction 'and')

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्य (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/passive necessity), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (to be given)

• अपत्यम्: offspring/child
• अपत्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• रोगवर्जितम्: free from disease
• रोगवर्जितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वृज्/वर्ज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; अपत्यं विशेषयति (qualifies 'apatyam')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna must be given with śuddhi—fit vessel, healthy animal, and wholesome progeny—so the gift is complete and non-harmful.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; sattva-enhancing action offered without injury (ahiṃsā).

Application: When giving charity, ensure the recipient and the gifted item/being are cared for (health, sustainability, non-exploitation); prefer sacred, clean materials and clear intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (griha/mandapa/goshala)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.98 (go-dāna praise and procedure); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa sections that recommend dāna as support for the departed (general thematic link)

FAQs

What is the importance of go-dāna (donation of a calf) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the gift should be ritually proper and ethically sound—offering a calf (male or female) and ensuring what is given is healthy—so the dāna becomes a genuine act of dharma that generates puṇya.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

In the Garuda Purana’s broader ritual framework, prescribed dānas support the deceased or the living performer through accumulated merit; this verse specifies the correctness of the offering, implying that proper, non-harmful gifts strengthen the spiritual benefit intended by such rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give responsibly: donations should be wholesome and non-exploitative—offer what is healthy, sustainable, and truly beneficial to the recipient, rather than symbolic giving that causes harm or burden.