Shloka 16

The Explanation of Various Gifts (Dāna) and the Soul’s Entry into Another Body

Devanagari script

यो ऽश्वं नावं गजं वापि ब्राह्मणे प्रतिपादयेत् / स महिम्नो ऽनुसारेण तत्तत्सुखमुपाश्नुते

Transliteration

yo 'śvaṃ nāvaṃ gajaṃ vāpi brāhmaṇe pratipādayet / sa mahimno 'nusāreṇa tattatsukhamupāśnute

Translation

ผู้ใดถวายม้า เรือ หรือแม้ช้างแก่พราหมณ์ ผู้นั้นย่อมเสวยสุขผลตามความยิ่งใหญ่แห่งทานนั้นโดยสมควร

Word by Word

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• अश्वम्: a horse
• अश्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नावम्: a boat
• नावम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गजम्: an elephant
• गजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

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

• ब्राह्मणे: to a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• प्रतिपादयेत्: should give/present
• प्रतिपादयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति√पद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महिम्नः: of greatness/merit
• महिम्नः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अनुसारेण: according to
• अनुसारेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करणार्थे (according to/by)

• तत्-तत्-सुखम्: that respective happiness
• तत्-तत्-सुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (तत् तत् = तादृशं तादृशं)

• उपाश्नुते: enjoys/obtains
• उपाश्नुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप√अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna yields फल proportionate to the magnitude and sanctity of the gift (yathā-dāna tathā-phala).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyati (lawful fruition of action) within dharma; purification of mind through giving as a support for higher pursuits.

Application: Give within means to qualified recipients with right intention; choose gifts that genuinely support dharmic life (transport, livelihood, ritual needs).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.31 (dāna and preta-path alleviation context); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: dāna as support for the departed’s journey (general thematic linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offering significant gifts to a Brāhmaṇa generates merit whose pleasant results are enjoyed in proportion to the gift’s spiritual “greatness” (mahimā).

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

In the Preta Kanda context, such meritorious actions (puṇya) support the departed being’s welfare and favorable experiences, emphasizing that post-death outcomes follow one’s karma, including dāna.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice ethical giving: donate sincerely and appropriately (capacity, right recipient, right intention), understanding that generosity creates corresponding positive karmic results.