The Dharma of Giving

Verse 1 (garuda.1.51.1)

॥ ब्रह्मोवाच ॥ अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि दानधर्ममनुत्तमम् ॥ अर्थानामुचिते पात्रे श्रद्धया प्रतिपादनम्

. brahmovāca . athātaḥ saṁpravakṣyāmi dānadharmamanuttamam . arthānāmucite pātre śraddhayā pratipādanam

Brahma said: Now hereafter I shall declare the incomparable dharma of giving. The bestowal of one's wealth, with faith, upon a fitting recipient —

Verse 2 (garuda.1.51.2)

दानं तु कथितं तज्ज्ञैर्भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम् ॥ न्यायेनोपार्जयेद्वित्तं दानभोगफलं च तत्

dānaṁ tu kathitaṁ tajjñairbhuktimuktiphalapradam . nyāyenopārjayedvittaṁ dānabhogaphalaṁ ca tat

this is declared by the wise as dana, which bestows the fruits of both enjoyment and liberation. Wealth should be earned righteously; its fruit lies in both giving and enjoying it.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.51.3)

अध्यापनं याजनं च वृत्तमाहुः प्रतिग्रहम् ॥ कुसीदं कृषिवाणिज्यं क्षत्त्रवृत्तोऽथ वर्जयेत्

adhyāpanaṁ yājanaṁ ca vṛttamāhuḥ pratigraham . kusīdaṁ kṛṣivāṇijyaṁ kṣattravṛtto'tha varjayet

Teaching, officiating at sacrifice, and receiving gifts — these are declared as proper livelihood; usury, farming, and trade should be avoided as belonging to the kshatriya's livelihood.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.51.4)

यद्दीयते तु पात्रेभ्यस्तद्दानं परिकीर्त्तितम् ॥ नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं विमलं दानमीरितम्

yaddīyate tu pātrebhyastaddānaṁ parikīrttitam . nityaṁ naimittikaṁ kāmyaṁ vimalaṁ dānamīritam

That which is given to fit recipients is called dana. Nitya (daily), naimittika (occasional), and kamya (desire-motivated) — thus pure dana is declared to be threefold.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.51.5)

अहन्यहनि यत्किञ्चिद्दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे ॥ अनुद्दिश्य फलं तस्माद्ब्राह्मणाय तु नित्यशः

ahanyahani yatkiñciddīyate'nupakāriṇe . anuddiśya phalaṁ tasmādbrāhmaṇāya tu nityaśaḥ

That which is given day after day, without aiming at any fruit, to one who offers nothing in return, regularly to a brahmin —

Verse 6 (garuda.1.51.6)

यत्तु पापोपशान्त्यै च दीयते विदुषां करे ॥ नैमित्तिकं तदुद्दिष्टंदानं सद्भिरनुष्ठितम्

yattu pāpopaśāntyai ca dīyate viduṣāṁ kare . naimittikaṁ taduddiṣṭaṁdānaṁ sadbhiranuṣṭhitam

and that which is given into the hands of the learned for the pacification of sin — that is called the naimittika gift, practiced by the virtuous.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.51.7)

अपत्यविजयैश्वर्य्यस्वर्गार्थं यत्प्रदीयते ॥ दानं तत्काम्यमाख्यातमृषिभिर्धर्माचिन्तकैः

apatyavijayaiśvaryyasvargārthaṁ yatpradīyate . dānaṁ tatkāmyamākhyātamṛṣibhirdharmācintakaiḥ

That which is given for the sake of offspring, victory, sovereignty, or heaven, the sages who ponder dharma declare to be the kamya gift.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.51.8)

ईश्वरप्रीणनार्थाय ब्रह्मावित्सुप्रदीयते ॥ चेतसा सत्त्वयुक्तेन दानं तद्विमलं शिवम्

īśvaraprīṇanārthāya brahmāvitsupradīyate . cetasā sattvayuktena dānaṁ tadvimalaṁ śivam

That given for the sake of pleasing the Lord, well-bestowed upon a knower of Brahman with a mind full of goodness — that gift is pure and auspicious.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.51.9)

इक्षुभिः सन्ततां भूमिं यवगोधूमशालिनीम् ॥ ददाति वेदविदुषे स न भूयोऽभिजायते

ikṣubhiḥ santatāṁ bhūmiṁ yavagodhūmaśālinīm . dadāti vedaviduṣe sa na bhūyo'bhijāyate

He who gives to a knower of the Vedas land continuous with sugar-cane, rich in barley, wheat, and rice, is not born again.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.51.10)

भूमिदानात्परं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति ॥ विद्यां दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणाय ब्रह्मलोके महीयते

bhūmidānātparaṁ dānaṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati . vidyāṁ dattvā brāhmaṇāya brahmaloke mahīyate

No gift greater than the gift of land has been or will be. Having given knowledge to a brahmin, a person is exalted in the world of Brahma.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.51.11)

दद्यादहरहस्तास्तु श्रद्धया ब्रह्मचारिणे ॥ सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो ब्रह्मस्थानमवाप्नुयात्

dadyādaharahastāstu śraddhayā brahmacāriṇe . sarvapāpavinirmukto brahmasthānamavāpnuyāt

One should give, with faith, day after day to a celibate student; freed from all sins, he attains the abode of Brahma.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.51.12)

वैशाख्यां पौर्णमास्यां तु ब्राह्मणान्सप्त पञ्च च ॥ उपोष्याभ्यर्चयेद्विद्वान्मधुना तिलसर्पिषा

vaiśākhyāṁ paurṇamāsyāṁ tu brāhmaṇānsapta pañca ca . upoṣyābhyarcayedvidvānmadhunā tilasarpiṣā

On the full moon of Vaishakha, the wise one, having fasted, should honor seven or five brahmins with honey, sesame, and ghee.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.51.13)

गन्धादिभिः समभ्यर्च्य वाचयेद्वा स्वयं वदेत् ॥ प्रीयतां धर्मराजेति यथा मनसि वर्त्तते

gandhādibhiḥ samabhyarcya vācayedvā svayaṁ vadet . prīyatāṁ dharmarājeti yathā manasi varttate

Having duly worshipped with sandal-paste and the rest, one should have it recited, or recite oneself, according to what is in the mind: 'May Dharmaraja be pleased.'

Verse 14 (garuda.1.51.14)

यावज्जीवं कृतं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति ॥ कृष्णाजिने तिलान्कृत्वा हिरण्यमधुसर्पिषा

yāvajjīvaṁ kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tatkṣaṇādeva naśyati . kṛṣṇājine tilānkṛtvā hiraṇyamadhusarpiṣā

Sin committed throughout one's whole life is destroyed that very instant. He who, upon a black antelope skin, having placed sesame seeds along with gold, honey, and ghee,

Verse 15 (garuda.1.51.15)

ददाति यस्तु विप्राय सर्वं तरति दुष्कृतम् ॥ घृतान्नमुदकं चैव वैशाख्यां च विशेषतः

dadāti yastu viprāya sarvaṁ tarati duṣkṛtam . ghṛtānnamudakaṁ caiva vaiśākhyāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ

gives them to a brahmin, crosses over all his misdeeds. Ghee, food, and water, especially on the full moon of Vaishakha —

Verse 16 (garuda.1.51.16)

निर्दिश्य धर्मराजाय विप्रेभ्यो मुच्यते भयात् ॥ द्वादश्यामर्चयेद्विष्णुमुपोष्याघप्रणाशनम्

nirdiśya dharmarājāya viprebhyo mucyate bhayāt . dvādaśyāmarcayedviṣṇumupoṣyāghapraṇāśanam

designated for Dharmaraja and given to brahmins, a person is freed from fear. On the twelfth day, having fasted, one should worship Vishnu, the destroyer of sin.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.51.17)

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो नरो भवति निश्चितम् ॥ यो हि यां देवतामिच्छेत्समाराधयितुं नरः

sarvapāpavinirmukto naro bhavati niścitam . yo hi yāṁ devatāmicchetsamārādhayituṁ naraḥ

A person certainly becomes freed from all sins. Whatever deity a person wishes to propitiate —

Verse 18 (garuda.1.51.18)

ब्राह्मणान्पूजयेद्दत्नाद्भोजयेद्योषितः सुरान् ॥ सन्तानकामः सततं पूजयेद्वै पुरन्दरम्

brāhmaṇānpūjayeddatnādbhojayedyoṣitaḥ surān . santānakāmaḥ satataṁ pūjayedvai purandaram

he should honor brahmins with gifts, and feed women and the gods. One desiring offspring should constantly worship Indra.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.51.19)

ब्रह्मवर्चसकामस्तु ब्राह्मणान्ब्रह्मनिश्चयात् ॥ आरोग्यकामोऽथ रविं धनकामो हुताशनम्

brahmavarcasakāmastu brāhmaṇānbrahmaniścayāt . ārogyakāmo'tha raviṁ dhanakāmo hutāśanam

One desiring the radiance of Brahman should worship brahmins with devotion to Brahman; one desiring health, the Sun; one desiring wealth, Agni.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.51.20)

कर्मणां सिद्धिकामस्तु पूजयेद्वै विनायकम् ॥ भोगकामो हि शशिनं बलकामः समीरणम्

karmaṇāṁ siddhikāmastu pūjayedvai vināyakam . bhogakāmo hi śaśinaṁ balakāmaḥ samīraṇam

One desiring success in undertakings should worship Vinayaka (Ganesha); one desiring enjoyment, the Moon; one desiring strength, the Wind.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.51.21)

मुमुक्षुः सर्वसंसारात्प्रयत्नेनार्चयेद्धरिम् ॥ अकामः सर्वकामो वा पूजयेत्तु गदाधरम्

mumukṣuḥ sarvasaṁsārātprayatnenārcayeddharim . akāmaḥ sarvakāmo vā pūjayettu gadādharam

One desiring liberation from the whole of worldly existence should worship Hari with effort. Whether free of desire or full of every desire, one should worship Gadadhara, the mace-bearer.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.51.22)

वारिदस्तृप्तिमाप्नोति सुखमक्षय्यमन्नदः ॥ तिलप्रदः प्रजामिष्टां दीपदश्चक्षुरुत्तमम्

vāridastṛptimāpnoti sukhamakṣayyamannadaḥ . tilapradaḥ prajāmiṣṭāṁ dīpadaścakṣuruttamam

The giver of water attains satisfaction, the giver of food attains imperishable happiness; the giver of sesame attains cherished offspring, the giver of a lamp, excellent eyesight.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.51.23)

भूमिदः सर्वमाप्नोति दीर्घमायुर्हिरण्यदः ॥ गृहदोऽग्र्याणि वेश्मानि रूप्यदो रूपमुत्तमम्

bhūmidaḥ sarvamāpnoti dīrghamāyurhiraṇyadaḥ . gṛhado'gryāṇi veśmāni rūpyado rūpamuttamam

The giver of land attains everything, the giver of gold attains long life; the giver of a house attains the finest dwellings, the giver of silver, excellent form.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.51.24)

वासोदश्चान्द्रसालोक्यमश्विसालोक्यमश्वदः ॥ अनडुद्दः श्रियं पुष्टां गोदो ब्रध्नस्य विष्टपम्

vāsodaścāndrasālokyamaśvisālokyamaśvadaḥ . anaḍuddaḥ śriyaṁ puṣṭāṁ godo bradhnasya viṣṭapam

The giver of clothing attains residence in the lunar realm, the giver of a horse, residence in the Ashvins' realm; the giver of an ox attains sturdy prosperity, the giver of a cow, the world of the sun.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.51.25)

यानशय्याप्रदो भार्य्यामैश्वर्य्यमभयप्रदः ॥ धान्यदः शावतं सौख्यं ब्रह्मदो ब्रह्म शाश्वतम्

yānaśayyāprado bhāryyāmaiśvaryyamabhayapradaḥ . dhānyadaḥ śāvataṁ saukhyaṁ brahmado brahma śāśvatam

The giver of a vehicle or a bed attains a good wife, the giver of freedom from fear, sovereignty; the giver of grain attains everlasting happiness, the giver of knowledge of Brahman, eternal Brahman itself.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.51.26)

वेदवित्सु ददज्ज्ञानं स्वर्गलोके महीयते ॥ गवां घासप्रदानेन सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

vedavitsu dadajjñānaṁ svargaloke mahīyate . gavāṁ ghāsapradānena sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

One who gives knowledge to knowers of the Vedas is exalted in the heavenly realm. By giving fodder to cows, a person is freed from every sin.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.51.27)

इन्धनानां प्रदानेन दीप्ताग्निर्जायते नरः ॥ औषधं स्नेहमाहारं रोगिरोगप्रशान्तये

indhanānāṁ pradānena dīptāgnirjāyate naraḥ . auṣadhaṁ snehamāhāraṁ rogirogapraśāntaye

By giving fuel, a person is born possessing a blazing ritual fire. One who gives medicine, oil, and food for the alleviation of a sick person's illness —

Verse 28 (garuda.1.51.28)

ददानो रोगरहितः सुखी दीर्घायुरेव च ॥ असिपत्रवनं मार्गं क्षुरधारासमन्वितम्

dadāno rogarahitaḥ sukhī dīrghāyureva ca . asipatravanaṁ mārgaṁ kṣuradhārāsamanvitam

becomes free of disease, happy, and long-lived. The path sharp as a sword's edge, and the scorching heat,

Verse 29 (garuda.1.51.29)

तीक्ष्णातपं च तरतिच्छत्रोपानत्प्रदो नरः ॥ यद्यदिष्टतमं लोके यच्चास्य दयितं गृहे

tīkṣṇātapaṁ ca taraticchatropānatprado naraḥ . yadyadiṣṭatamaṁ loke yaccāsya dayitaṁ gṛhe

one who gives an umbrella and sandals crosses beyond. Whatever is most cherished in this world, and whatever is dearest in one's own household,

Verse 30 (garuda.1.51.30)

तत्तद्गुणवते देयं तदेवाक्षयमिच्छता ॥ अयेन विषुवे चैव ग्रहणे चन्द्रसूर्य्ययोः

tattadguṇavate deyaṁ tadevākṣayamicchatā . ayena viṣuve caiva grahaṇe candrasūryyayoḥ

that very thing, by one desiring imperishable merit, should be given to a worthy recipient. At the equinox, at a lunar or solar eclipse,

Verse 31 (garuda.1.51.31)

संक्रान्त्यादिषु कालेषु दत्तं भवति चाक्षयम् ॥ प्रयागादिषु तीर्थेषु गयायां च विशेषतः

saṁkrāntyādiṣu kāleṣu dattaṁ bhavati cākṣayam . prayāgādiṣu tīrtheṣu gayāyāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ

at the solstice and similar occasions, whatever is given becomes imperishable. At Prayaga and other sacred fords, and especially at Gaya,

Verse 32 (garuda.1.51.32)

दानधर्मात्परो धर्मो भूतानां नेह विद्यते ॥ स्वर्गायुर्भूतिकामेन दानं पापोपशान्तये

dānadharmātparo dharmo bhūtānāṁ neha vidyate . svargāyurbhūtikāmena dānaṁ pāpopaśāntaye

there is no dharma greater than the dharma of giving for beings in this world. For one desiring heaven, long life, or prosperity, giving serves for the pacification of sin.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.51.33)

दीयमानं तु यो मोहाद्गोविप्राग्निसुरेषु च ॥ निवारयति पापात्मा तिर्य्यग्योनिं व्रजेन्नरः

dīyamānaṁ tu yo mohādgoviprāgnisureṣu ca . nivārayati pāpātmā tiryyagyoniṁ vrajennaraḥ

Whoever, out of delusion, obstructs a gift being made to a cow, a brahmin, fire, or the gods — that sinful person attains an animal birth.

Verse 34 (garuda.1.51.34)

यस्तु दुर्भिक्षवेलायामन्नाद्यं न प्रयच्छति ॥ म्रियमाणेषु विप्रेषु ब्रह्महा स तु गर्हितः

yastu durbhikṣavelāyāmannādyaṁ na prayacchati . mriyamāṇeṣu vipreṣu brahmahā sa tu garhitaḥ

And whoever, at a time of famine, does not give food while brahmins are dying — he is condemned as a slayer of a brahmin.