Shloka 31

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

पितुः शतगुणं दत्तं सहस्रं मातुरुच्यते / भगिन्या शतसाहस्रं सोदर्ये दत्तमक्षयम्

Transliteration

pituḥ śataguṇaṃ dattaṃ sahasraṃ māturucyate / bhaginyā śatasāhasraṃ sodarye dattamakṣayam

Translation

తండ్రికి ఇచ్చిన దానం శతగుణ ఫలాన్ని ఇస్తుంది; తల్లికి ఇచ్చిన దానం సహస్రగుణ ఫలమని చెప్పబడింది. అక్క/చెల్లికి ఇచ్చిన దానం లక్షగుణ ఫలదాయకం; సోదరుడికి ఇచ్చినది మాత్రం అక్షయ ఫలమని ప్రకటించబడింది.

Word by Word

• pituḥ: than/to the father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (Relation) or Apadana (Comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (पितृ)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative/Genitive (5th/6th), Singular

• śataguṇam: hundred-fold
• śataguṇam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śataguṇa (शतगुण)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• dattam: gift/given
• dattam: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: datta (दत्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Past Participle

• sahasram: thousand (fold)
• sahasram: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (सहस्र)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mātuḥ: than/to the mother
• mātuḥ: Sambandha (Relation) or Apadana (Comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (मातृ)
• Form: Feminine, Ablative/Genitive (5th/6th), Singular

• ucyate: is said/declared
• ucyate: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्)
• Form: Lat (Present), Atmanepada (Passive), 3rd Person, Singular

• bhaginyā: to a sister
• bhaginyā: Sampradana (Recipient - implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaginī (भगिनी)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (Context implies Dative/Genitive sense)

• śatasāhasram: hundred thousand-fold
• śatasāhasram: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śatasāhasra (शतसाहस्र)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sodarye: to a uterine brother
• sodarye: Adhikarana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sodarya (सोदर्य)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• dattam: gift/given
• dattam: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: datta (दत्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• akṣayam: imperishable/eternal
• akṣayam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (अक्षय)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dana to specific relations yields multiplied and even imperishable phala; generosity is a dharmic investment.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama (law of results) and vairagya through right use of wealth.

Application: Prioritize charitable support to parents and vulnerable kin; cultivate intentional giving rather than hoarding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta-khanda/Preta-kalpa: dana-mahatmya passages around 2.36 (contextual continuity)

Characters & Entities

• Father
• Mother
• Sister
• Full brother (Sodara)

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charitable giving) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse ranks the spiritual fruit of gifts made to close relatives, highlighting that dāna connected with family-duty (especially parents and siblings) is considered highly potent and, in some cases, ‘akṣaya’ (inexhaustible) in merit—supporting śrāddha-oriented dharma.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, meritorious acts like dāna and śrāddha are taught as supports for the departed and the living, strengthening dharma and generating punya that is understood to aid favorable post-death outcomes and ancestral satisfaction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize caring support and charitable giving that honors parents and strengthens family responsibility; when doing śrāddha or memorial charity, treat it as a dharmic duty done with sincerity rather than mere formality.