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

ทานที่ถวายแก่บิดาย่อมให้ผลร้อยเท่า; ทานที่ถวายแก่มารดากล่าวกันว่าให้ผลพันเท่า. ทานที่ให้แก่พี่น้องสตรีให้ผลแสนเท่า; แต่ทานที่ให้แก่พี่น้องชายร่วมสายโลหิตนั้นประกาศว่าให้ผลอักษยะ คือไม่เสื่อมสูญ.

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.