Shloka 27
Moksha and Svarga through Dāna, Tīrtha, Nāma-smaraṇa, and Bhāva
शीतवा तातपहरमपि पर्णकुटीरकम् / कृत्वा विप्राय विदुषे प्रददाति कुटुम्बिने
śītavā tātapaharamapi parṇakuṭīrakam / kṛtvā viprāya viduṣe pradadāti kuṭumbine
เขาสร้างกระท่อมใบไม้ที่กันความหนาว ลม และแดดร้อน แล้วถวายแก่พราหมณ์ผู้รู้ผู้มีปัญญา ผู้ครองเรือนเลี้ยงดูครอบครัว।
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Even a simple leaf-hut that protects from cold and heat, when gifted to a learned brāhmaṇa householder, is meritorious.
Vedantic Theme: Sattvic charity: alleviating duḥkha through practical support; intention and usefulness define the spiritual value of dāna.
Application: Offer dignified shelter or housing support to deserving scholars/teachers and vulnerable families; focus on comfort, safety, and sustainability.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: habitation (kuṭīra)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: gradations of dāna—food, clothing, shelter—and their fruits; Garuda Purana: honoring vidvān brāhmaṇa and supporting gṛhastha responsibilities
FAQs
This verse emphasizes that providing even simple shelter that protects from heat and cold is a powerful act of dāna, generating puṇya and relieving hardship—especially relevant in the Preta Kanda’s teaching on post-death welfare through charity.
In the Preta Kanda framework, acts of charity performed according to dharma are taught as supports that reduce suffering and scarcity faced by the departed; donating protective shelter symbolizes alleviating exposure and distress on the after-death path.
Offer meaningful shelter-related charity—support housing, blankets, or shade and heat relief—preferably through responsible, dharmic channels (such as supporting learned and service-oriented communities), cultivating compassion and merit.