Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 5

Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation

Devanagari script

देशे काले च सम्प्राप्ते मुन्यन्नं हरिदैवतम् । श्रद्धया विधिवत्पात्रे न्यस्तं कामधुगक्षयम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

deśe kāle ca samprāpte muny-annaṁ hari-daivatam śraddhayā vidhivat pātre nyastaṁ kāmadhug akṣayam

Translation

当得遇吉祥的时地，应以虔诚（śraddhā）依仪轨将以酥油烹制的清净食物供奉于圣主哈利（Śrī Hari）的神像；再把这份圣食（prasāda）施与合格之人——毗湿奴信徒或婆罗门——便能招致不竭的福裕。

Synonyms

• deśe: in (a) place
• deśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāle: at (a) time
• kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• samprāpte: when (they) have arrived/when it is reached
• samprāpte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√prāp (प्राप् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); used absolutely with deśe kāle (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध/locative absolute)

• muni: sage
• muni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• annam: food (fit for sages)
• annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: muni-annam (तत्पुरुष; 'food fit for sages'/ 'sage-food')

• hari: Hari (Vishnu)
• hari: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• daivatam: (with) Hari as the presiding deity
• daivatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: hari-daivatam (तत्पुरुष; 'having Hari as deity')

• śraddhayā: with faith
• śraddhayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraddhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidhivat: according to rule
• vidhivat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhivat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• pātre: in/into a worthy recipient
• pātre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• nyastam: placed/deposited
• nyastam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√as (अस्/न्यासे; here ni-√as/ni-√dhā sense 'to place')
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with annam/daivatam (object)

• kāmadhuk: wish-fulfilling (like a cow)
• kāmadhuk: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāmadhuk (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine/indeclinable-stem adjective used predicatively; here as qualifier of annam (metaphoric)

• akṣayam: imperishable/inexhaustible
• akṣayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with annam

Characters & Entities

• Hari

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about giving charity at the right time and place?

This verse teaches that charity should be offered only when proper time and place are present, and it should be done with faith and according to scriptural method to a worthy recipient.

Why is charity to saintly persons described as worship of Hari in Bhagavatam?

Because the Lord is pleased when His devotees and saintly persons are honored; offering food to them in a regulated, faithful way is treated as service to Hari Himself.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching on dāna in modern life?

Give thoughtfully: choose a genuine, deserving person or spiritual cause, offer with sincerity (not for show), and follow a disciplined habit of charity—then it becomes spiritually enduring (akṣaya).