Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.136

c5.136

DĀNAM. Gift. In ancient India a spiritual significance was attached to dānam. (offering of a free gift). One who gave water was said to achieve contentment; one who gave food, eternal happiness; one who gave land, government of the country; one who gave gold would attain longevity; one who gave a house would get domestic felicity; one who gave silver would get physical beauty; one who gave clothes would reach candraloka; one who gave a horse would attain the world of the Aśvinīdevas; one who gave bulls would get prosperity; one who gave cows would reach sūryaloka; according to Manusmṛti.