Devi Bhagavatam 9.30.4 — Devotion & Grace of the Goddess, Skandha 9, Adhyaya 30, Shloka 4

Yama's Description of Karma Vipaka and the Supremacy of Devi Yajna

Devanagari script

अन्नदानात्परं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति । नात्र पात्रपरीक्षा स्यान्न कालनियमः क्वचित्

Transliteration

annadānātparaṃ dānaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati | nātra pātraparīkṣā syānna kālaniyamaḥ kvacit

Translation

اناج کے عطیہ سے بڑھ کر کوئی عطیہ نہ ہوا ہے اور نہ ہوگا؛ یہاں نہ تو لینے والے کی جانچ کی ضرورت ہے اور نہ ہی وقت کی کوئی پابندی ہے۔

Word by Word

• annadānāt: than the gift of food
• annadānāt: Apādāna (Comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: annadāna
• Form: Abl. Sing. Neuter

• param: higher/other
• param: null
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para
• Form: Nom. Sing. Neuter

• dānam: gift
• dānam: Kartṛ
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna
• Form: Nom. Sing. Neuter

• na: not
• na: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na
• Form: Negation

• bhūtam: happened/existed
• bhūtam: null
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhū
• Form: Past Passive Participle (Kta), Nom. Sing. Neuter

• bhaviṣyati: will be
• bhaviṣyati: null
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū
• Form: Lrt, 3rd Sing. Parasmaipada

• atra: here/in this
• atra: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra
• Form: Adverb

• pātraparīkṣā: examination of the recipient
• pātraparīkṣā: Kartṛ
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātraparīkṣā
• Form: Nom. Sing. Feminine

• syāt: should be
• syāt: null
• Type: Verb
• Root: as
• Form: Vidhilin, 3rd Sing. Parasmaipada

• kālaniyamaḥ: restriction of time
• kālaniyamaḥ: Kartṛ
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālaniyama
• Form: Nom. Sing. Masculine

• kvacit: anywhere/ever
• kvacit: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit
• Form: Adverb

Speaker

Yama

Shakti Theology

Devi Form: null

Mahavidya Connection: null

Shakti Manifestation: null

Tattva Discussed: null

Devi Narrative

Demon Antagonist: null

Devi Weapon Used: null

Narrative Source: null

Story Arc Position: null

Tantra Dimension

Mantra Referenced: null

Yantra Referenced: null

Kundalini Element: null

Chakra Referenced: null

Tantric Practice Type: null

Bhakti & Stuti

Stuti Type: null

Recitation Occasion: null

Phala Shruti: null

Devotee Offering Stuti: null

Cosmic Feminine

Maya Aspect: null

Creation Role: null

Shakti Philosophy: null

Relation To Brahman: null

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Yama

Listener: Savitri

Dialogue Context: Emphasizing the absolute supremacy of giving food over all other gifts.

Narrative Layer: embedded

Ritual Context

Text: Encourages feeding anyone who comes to the door hungry, at any time of day or night.

Philosophical Significance

Text: A profound humanitarian statement in the Puranas. It overrides strict Vedic rules regarding 'Desha-Kala-Patra' (Place-Time-Recipient) specifically for food, making compassion the highest Dharma.

Characters & Entities

• Annadana

FAQs

Why is Annadana considered the supreme gift?

Because it directly sustains life and there has never been, nor will there be, a gift greater than it.

Are there any rules for giving food?

No, the verse explicitly states there is no need to examine the worthiness of the recipient (patra-pariksha) and no restriction of time (kala-niyama) for giving food.