Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

यद्दीयते तु पात्रेभ्यस्तद्दानं परिकीर्तितम् / नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं विमलं दानमीरितम्

Transliteration

yaddīyate tu pātrebhyastaddānaṃ parikīrtitam / nityaṃ naimittikaṃ kāmyaṃ vimalaṃ dānamīritam

Translation

Ang ibinibigay sa mga karapat-dapat na tatanggap ang siyang tinatawag na tunay na dāna. Ang dalisay na pagbibigay na ito ay sinasabing may tatlong uri: palagian (araw-araw), pang-okasyon (sa tiyak na ritwal o pagkakataon), at yaong may hangarin (ginagawa upang makamit ang ninanais na bunga).

Word by Word

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• दीयते: is given
• दीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लट् (Present), पुरुषः प्रथमः (3rd), वचनम् एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक

• पात्रेभ्यः: to worthy recipients
• पात्रेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी (Dative/Ablative), बहुवचनम्; अत्र सम्प्रदानार्थे (dative)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta/Predicate pointer (सर्वनाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (anaphoric)

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

• परिकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed/defined
• परिकीर्तितम्: Kriya/Predicate (क्रिया-विशेष्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विधेय (predicate)

• नित्यम्: regular (daily)
• नित्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; दानस्य भेद-विशेषणम्

• नैमित्तिकम्: occasional (for a cause)
• नैमित्तिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैमित्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; दानस्य भेद-विशेषणम्

• काम्यम्: desire-motivated (for a wish)
• काम्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; दानस्य भेद-विशेषणम्

• विमलम्: pure, spotless
• विमलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; दानस्य गुण-विशेषणम्

• दानम्: giving, charity
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचनम्

• ईरितम्: is stated
• ईरितम्: Kriya/Predicate (क्रिया-विशेष्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विधेय (predicate)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True dāna is what is given to worthy recipients; pure giving is of three types—nitya, naimittika, kāmya.

Vedantic Theme: Intention and purity refine karma; moving from kāmya toward nitya/naimittika supports inner purification and eventual detachment.

Application: Maintain a daily giving habit (nitya), give on life-events/ritual occasions (naimittika), and if giving for specific aims (kāmya), do so ethically without harming others.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: śāstric instruction setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: further typologies of dāna and pātra-lakṣaṇa; Garuda Purana: śrāddha-related naimittika dānas (thematic link)

FAQs

What is the importance of giving to a worthy recipient (pātra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines true dāna as that which is offered to a fit recipient; worthiness is central to making the gift “pure” (vimala) and spiritually effective.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and post-death merit?

While not naming śrāddha or piṇḍa directly, it classifies “occasional” (naimittika) giving—relevant to rite-based donations—highlighting that properly directed gifts support dharmic merit that is emphasized throughout the Garuda Purana’s ritual framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give regularly, give on meaningful occasions/rites with clarity, and when giving for a goal, keep the act ethical and recipient-focused—prioritizing worthy beneficiaries and purity of conduct.