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Shloka 36

Vāmanadeva Praises Bali; the Measure of Three Steps; Śukrācārya Warns Against the Gift

न तद्दानं प्रशंसन्ति येन वृत्तिर्विपद्यते । दानं यज्ञस्तप: कर्म लोके वृत्तिमतो यत: ॥ ३६ ॥

na tad dānaṁ praśaṁsanti yena vṛttir vipadyate dānaṁ yajñas tapaḥ karma loke vṛttimato yataḥ

وہ خیرات جس سے اپنی روزی روٹی ہی خطرے میں پڑ جائے، اہلِ علم اس کی تعریف نہیں کرتے۔ خیرات، یَجْن، تپسیا اور اعمال وہی کر سکتا ہے جو اپنی معیشت درست طور پر چلا سکے۔

nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध-निपात)
tatthat
tat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypePronoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun
dānamgift; charity
dānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootdāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
praśaṁsantithey praise
praśaṁsanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√śaṁs (शंस् धातु)
FormLaṭ (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)
yenaby which
yena:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypePronoun
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter/Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun
vṛttiḥlivelihood; sustenance
vṛttiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
vipadyateis ruined; perishes
vipadyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvi-√pad (पद् धातु)
FormLaṭ (लट्/Present), Ātmanepada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
dānamcharity
dānam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
yajñaḥsacrifice
yajñaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyajña (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
tapaḥausterity
tapaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottapas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
karmaritual action; work
karma:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
lokein the world
loke:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootloka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)
vṛttimataḥof one who has sustenance
vṛttimataḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootvṛtti (प्रातिपदिक) + matup (मतुप्)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); possessive adjective ‘having livelihood’
yataḥbecause; since
yataḥ:
Hetu (हेतु/cause)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyataḥ (अव्यय)
FormRelative/causal indeclinable (सम्बन्ध/हेतु-अव्यय): ‘from which/because’

FAQs

This verse says such charity is not praised; giving should be done in a way that does not destroy one’s proper maintenance and duties.

He highlights that pious acts like charity, sacrifice, and austerity are meant to be practiced responsibly, aligned with one’s capacity and worldly duties.

Give regularly and sincerely, but within your means—supporting dharmic causes without neglecting essential responsibilities like family upkeep and honest livelihood.