Shloka 12

Dāna-vidhi: Pātra-nirṇaya, Go-dāna-mahima, and Rules of Acceptance

Devanagari script

द्विजाय यदभीष्टं तु दत्त्वा स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात् / भूदीपांश्चान्नवस्त्राणि सर्पिर्दत्त्वा व्रजेच्छियम्

Transliteration

dvijāya yadabhīṣṭaṃ tu dattvā svargamavāpnuyāt / bhūdīpāṃścānnavastrāṇi sarpirdattvā vrajecchiyam

Translation

Ai cúng dường cho bậc Nhị-sinh (Bà-la-môn) đúng điều vị ấy mong cầu thì được lên cõi trời. Lại bố thí ruộng đất và đèn sáng, cùng cơm ăn áo mặc, và dâng bơ tinh (ghee) thì được phú quý, thịnh vượng.

Word by Word

• द्विजाय: to a Brahmin (twice-born)
• द्विजाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अभीष्टम्: desired (thing)
• अभीष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; 'यत्' इत्यस्य विशेष्यभावे

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to main verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having given'

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अवाप्नुयात्: may attain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• भूदीपान्: lamps (for the earth/land)
• भूदीपान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू + दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समास: भू-दीप (भूमेः दीपाः)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्नवस्त्राणि: food and clothes
• अन्नवस्त्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: अन्नं च वस्त्राणि च

• सर्पिः: ghee
• सर्पिः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (रूपम्: सर्पिः)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having given'

• व्रजेत्: may go/attain
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शियम्: prosperity/fortune
• शियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (रूपम्: शियम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna to a worthy recipient (dvija) produces puṇya leading to svarga and prosperity (śrī).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-niyatitva of karma-phala (results governed by cosmic order).

Application: Practice intentional charity: give what is genuinely needed/desirable (abhīṣṭa) and support essentials—food, clothing, lamps, ghee—without ostentation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Dharma sections): recurring dāna-phala lists; emphasis on anna-dāna, vastra-dāna, ghṛta-dāna

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (Brahmin)

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents dāna as a direct creator of puṇya: giving what is truly needed—especially to a dvija—supports dharma and yields higher results such as svarga (heaven) and śrī (prosperity).

How does this verse explain karmic results (phala) for actions?

It links specific gifts to specific outcomes: fulfilling a worthy recipient’s need leads to svarga, while donating essentials like food, clothing, lamps, land, and ghee is said to generate auspiciousness and material well-being (śrī).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional giving: support genuine religious/ethical learning and donate essentials (food, clothing, light/energy support, and resources) with sincerity, viewing charity as a disciplined dharmic act rather than mere charity for show.