Shloka 56

Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

अत्युत्तमं द्रव्यदानं च देवि स्वापेक्षितं दानमाहुर्महान्तः / स्वस्यानपेक्षं फलदानं च वस्त्रादानं तस्य व्यर्थमाहुर्महान्तः

Transliteration

atyuttamaṃ dravyadānaṃ ca devi svāpekṣitaṃ dānamāhurmahāntaḥ / svasyānapekṣaṃ phaladānaṃ ca vastrādānaṃ tasya vyarthamāhurmahāntaḥ

Translation

Ôi Nữ Thần, bậc hiền trí nói rằng bố thí tài vật là hình thức bố thí tối thượng; và món quà dâng với sự mong cầu đáp lại hay danh tiếng vẫn được gọi là “bố thí”. Nhưng nếu dâng trái cây hay y phục mà trong lòng còn trông đợi quả báo cho riêng mình, thì bậc hiền trí bảo rằng sự bố thí ấy trở nên vô ích.

Word by Word

• ati-uttamam: most excellent
• ati-uttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• dravya-dānam: donation of wealth/materials
• dravya-dānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (द्रव्यस्य दानम्)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• devi: O देवी
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• sva-apekṣitam: desired/expected (by oneself)
• sva-apekṣitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + apekṣita (कृदन्त, √īkṣ/√apekṣ)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; past passive participle (क्त) ‘apekṣita’ = expected/desired; tatpuruṣa ‘one’s own expected’

• dānam: gift
• dānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (object of āhuḥ)

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mahāntaḥ: the great ones/sages
• mahāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• svasya: of oneself
• svasya: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun ‘of oneself’

• anapekṣam: without expectation
• anapekṣam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an- (उपसर्ग/नञ्) + apekṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; negated adjective ‘without expectation’

• phala-dānam: giving of fruits (reward)
• phala-dānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (फलस्य दानम्)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vastra-ādānam: accepting/taking clothes
• vastra-ādānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘taking/accepting of clothes’ (वस्त्रस्य आदानम्)

• tasya: of that/for him
• tasya: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• vyartham: fruitless/meaningless
• vyartham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used predicatively with dānam understood

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Plural

• mahāntaḥ: the great ones
• mahāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra; the address 'devi' reflects the received verse reading)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna bears fruit according to inner intention; expectation of reward/recognition undermines merit.

Vedantic Theme: Nishkāma-karma (action without attachment to results) as purifier of mind (citta-śuddhi).

Application: Give anonymously and without bargaining for praise, return favors, or spiritual ‘points’; examine motive before donating.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.57-60 (continuation on superior gifts and tīrtha context)

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Mahantaḥ (the wise)

FAQs

What is the importance of intention (apeksha) in charity according to the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that expectation for personal gain can nullify the spiritual fruit of a gift; charity becomes truly effective when offered without self-seeking.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and earning merit (puṇya)?

In the Preta-kanda context, gifts (like clothes or food) are often connected with merit for the departed; the verse teaches that the merit depends not only on the item but on the giver’s inner motive.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give support (money, food, clothes) quietly and without demanding recognition or returns; treat charity as dharma rather than a transaction for status or future reward.