Shloka 3
Bhūmi-dāna, Satya-dharma, and the Non-cancellation of Sin by Charity
नास्ति भमिसमं दानं नास्ति भमिसमो निधिः / नास्ति सत्यसमो धर्मो नानृतात्पातकं परम्
nāsti bhamisamaṃ dānaṃ nāsti bhamisamo nidhiḥ / nāsti satyasamo dharmo nānṛtātpātakaṃ param
زمین کا دان سب دانوں سے بڑھ کر ہے، اور زمین جیسا کوئی خزانہ نہیں۔ سچائی جیسا کوئی دھرم نہیں، اور جھوٹ سے بڑا کوئی گناہ نہیں۔
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Satya is the highest dharma; anṛta (falsehood) is the greatest pāpa; bhūmi-dāna is the highest dāna and bhūmi itself the greatest nidhi.
Vedantic Theme: Satya as alignment with ṛta/dharma; purity of speech (vāk-śuddhi) as a prerequisite for inner clarity (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi).
Application: Prioritize truthfulness in speech and dealings; treat land/earth resources as sacred trust; when giving, prefer enduring, livelihood-supporting gifts and avoid deception in contracts, testimony, and promises.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dāna-khaṇḍa/Preta-khaṇḍa passages praising bhūmi-dāna and condemning anṛta)
FAQs
This verse states that truthfulness is the highest form of dharma; it is presented as the strongest moral foundation that supports spiritual merit and right conduct.
In the Preta Kanda’s moral framework, actions and speech create karmic results; by calling falsehood the greatest sin, the text signals that deceit heavily burdens the soul’s post-death journey and accountability.
Practice truthful speech, avoid deliberate deception, and treat charity as sacred—especially supporting others through stable resources—while remembering that integrity is valued above ritual show.