Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

ईश्वरप्रीणनार्थाय ब्रह्मावित्सुप्रदीयते / चेतसा सत्त्वयुक्तेन दानं तद्विमलं शिवम्

Transliteration

īśvaraprīṇanārthāya brahmāvitsupradīyate / cetasā sattvayuktena dānaṃ tadvimalaṃ śivam

Translation

เพื่อยังพระเป็นเจ้าให้พอพระทัย พึงถวายทานอย่างดีแก่ผู้รู้พรหมัน; ทานที่ทำด้วยจิตประกอบด้วยสัตตวะ ย่อมบริสุทธิ์และเป็นมงคล.

Word by Word

• ईश्वरप्रीणनार्थाय: for the purpose of pleasing the Lord
• ईश्वरप्रीणनार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान-प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर + प्रीणन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (dative of purpose)

• ब्रह्मवित्: a knower of Brahman
• ब्रह्मवित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; 'knower of Brahman'

• सु: well, excellently
• सु: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-पूर्वपद (intensifier)

• प्रदीयते: is given
• प्रदीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• चेतसा: with mind
• चेतसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• सत्त्वयुक्तेन: endowed with purity (sattva)
• सत्त्वयुक्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; चेतसा इति विशेषण; 'endowed with sattva'

• दानम्: gift, charity
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; निर्देश

• विमलम्: pure, spotless
• विमलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; दानम् इति विशेषण

• शिवम्: auspicious
• शिवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; दानम् इति विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vimala-dāna: charity offered to brahma-vits with a sattvic mind, explicitly for pleasing the Lord, is pure and auspicious.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti-informed karma becomes sattva-purifying and tends toward liberation; offering to the Lord through the worthy recipient aligns action with the Absolute.

Application: Before giving, set devotional sankalpa (‘for īśvara-prīti’); choose recipients of integrity/knowledge; cultivate sattva via truthfulness, moderation, and non-harming.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.51.5-1.51.9: progression from nitya/naimittika/kamya to vimala dana and its higher fruit

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Brahmavids

FAQs

What is the importance of sattvic charity in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that charity done with a sattva-filled mind is considered pure (vimala) and auspicious (śiva), making it spiritually elevating rather than merely transactional.

How does this verse relate to the path of the soul and karma?

By emphasizing pure intention and worthy recipients (Brahmavids), the verse frames charity as a karma that refines the mind and generates auspicious merit, supporting a favorable spiritual trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give intentionally and respectfully—support genuine spiritual learning/teaching or noble causes—while cultivating clarity, humility, and sincerity rather than seeking recognition.