Shloka 7

Yājñavalkya on the Sources of Dharma and the Saṁskāras of the Twice-Born

Devanagari script

देशकाल उपायेन द्रव्यं श्रद्धासमन्वितम् / पात्रे प्रदीयते यत्तत्सकलं धर्मलक्षणम्

Transliteration

deśakāla upāyena dravyaṃ śraddhāsamanvitam / pātre pradīyate yattatsakalaṃ dharmalakṣaṇam

Translation

凡以适当之地、适当之时、适当之法而施与财物，具足信心，并布施于堪受之人者——这一切都被视为达摩的真实标记。

Word by Word

• देश-काल: place and time
• देश-काल: Upapada/Context (Circumstantial)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन (Nominative/Accusative Singular; समाहार-द्वन्द्व, अव्यक्त-विभक्ति-प्रयोग)

• उपायेन: by a proper method
• उपायेन: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• द्रव्यम्: substance/wealth (gift)
• द्रव्यम्: Karta (Grammatical subject of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रद्धा-समन्वितम्: endowed with faith
• श्रद्धा-समन्वितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (कृदन्त; अन्वि/अनु-√इ, क्त; ‘endowed’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying) द्रव्यम्

• पात्रे: to/in a worthy recipient
• पात्रे: Sampradana/Adhikarana (Recipient locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रदीयते: is given
• प्रदीयते: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + प्र- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन (Nominative/Accusative Singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन (Nominative/Accusative Singular)

• सकलम्: entire/complete
• सकलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying) तत्

• धर्म-लक्षणम्: the characteristic/definition of dharma
• धर्म-लक्षणम्: Predicate/Complement
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय (predicate nominative)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna becomes dharma when performed with śraddhā, suited to place/time/means, and given to a worthy recipient (pātra).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: right action with right attitude purifies the mind; intention (śraddhā) and discernment (viveka in pātra selection) shape karmaphala.

Application: Give responsibly: match donation to context and capacity, verify recipient integrity, and cultivate sincere intent rather than publicity or guilt-driven giving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent deśa-kāla-pātra rules in dāna and śrāddha; emphasis on śraddhā as multiplier of merit

FAQs

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

This verse defines dharma through disciplined giving—charity becomes dharma when it is offered with faith, at the right time and place, by proper means, and to a worthy recipient.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing faith-filled, properly directed giving as dharma, it points to actions that generate puṇya—supporting a favorable post-death journey and spiritual well-being described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give thoughtfully: choose a genuine need or worthy cause/person, give within ethical means, at an appropriate moment, and with sincere intent rather than display.