Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

इन्धनानां प्रदानेन दीप्ताग्निर्जायते नरः / औषधं स्नेहमाहारं रोगिरोगप्रशान्तये

Transliteration

indhanānāṃ pradānena dīptāgnirjāyate naraḥ / auṣadhaṃ snehamāhāraṃ rogirogapraśāntaye

Translation

การถวายฟืนย่อมทำให้ไฟย่อยอาหารของคนเรากล้าแข็ง; ฉันใด ผู้ป่วยย่อมบรรเทาโรคได้ด้วยยา ของมันหล่อเลี้ยง และอาหารที่เหมาะสม ฉันนั้น.

Word by Word

• indhanānām: of fuel (firewood)
• indhanānām: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• pradānena: by giving
• pradānena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradāna (प्रातिपदिक, √dā)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• dīpta-agniḥ: one with a blazing digestive fire
• dīpta-agniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √dīp-दीप्तौ) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (दीप्तः अग्निः यस्य/दीप्तोऽग्निः)

• jāyate: is born/becomes
• jāyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (जन्, प्रादुर्भावे/जन्मनि)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• auṣadham: medicine
• auṣadham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: auṣadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• sneham: fat/oil; affection
• sneham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• āhāram: food
• āhāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• rogi-roga-praśāntaye: for the alleviation of the sick person’s disease
• rogi-roga-praśāntaye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rogin (प्रातिपदिक) + roga (प्रातिपदिक) + praśānti (प्रातिपदिक, √śam-उपशमे, उपसर्गः प्र-)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रोगिणां रोगस्य प्रशान्तिः; तस्यै)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna of fuel supports fire (outer and inner), yielding strong digestion; disease is pacified by medicine, unctuous therapy, and proper diet.

Vedantic Theme: Care of the body as dharma-sādhana: maintaining agni and health supports pursuit of puruṣārthas; karma aligned with order (ṛta) yields harmony.

Application: Support communal kitchens/cremation/ritual needs via fuel; for health, follow triad: auṣadha + sneha (appropriate fats/oleation) + pathya āhāra under guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.51.28 (dāna yields freedom from disease and long life)

FAQs

What is the importance of indhana-dāna (offering fuel) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links giving fuel with the strengthening of agni (vital fire), presenting charity as a practical support for life and well-being, not merely a ritual act.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it frames dharmic action (supporting agni and sustaining others) as a discipline of right living, which the Garuda Purana treats as foundational preparation for favorable post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support life-sustaining needs (food/heat/energy) as charity, and maintain health through appropriate medicine, nourishing diet, and balanced intake—treating self-care as part of dharma.