Shloka 92
Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna
Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings
जलाशयो नैव कृतो हि निर्जले मनुष्यहेतोः पशुपक्षिहेतवे / गोतृप्तिहेतोर्न कृतं हि गोचरं देहिन्क्वचिन्नस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम्
jalāśayo naiva kṛto hi nirjale manuṣyahetoḥ paśupakṣihetave / gotṛptihetorna kṛtaṃ hi gocaraṃ dehinkvacinnastara yattvayā kṛtam
في موضعٍ لا ماء فيه لم تُنشئ حوضًا ولا خزانًا، لا لأجل الناس ولا لأجل الدواب والطيور. ولم تُهيِّئ مرعىً قطّ لتشبع الأبقار. يا صاحب الجسد، لم تفعل لنا شيئًا في أي مكان—يا أستارا.
Messengers/agents of Yama (Yamadūtas), addressing the deceased soul
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Paropakāra through provisioning water and pasture is high puṇya; omission becomes a cause of suffering later.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga as service to beings (bhūta-hita) purifying the mind toward higher knowledge.
Application: Support community water access (wells, tanks, bird baths), animal welfare, and ecological commons; treat infrastructure charity as spiritual practice.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: wilderness/settlement-edge
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dana categories praising water-gifts, wells, ponds, and go-seva (general parallel)
FAQs
This verse treats creating water sources in dry regions as a high-value act of dharma that supports humans, cattle, and birds, becoming merit that can be recalled in the after-death accounting of karma.
In the Preta Kanda context, Yama’s attendants evaluate the deceased person’s deeds; the verse shows that neglect of public-benefit charity (water, pasture, care for cows) leaves the soul without supportive merit when facing judgment and hardship on the post-death path.
Support accessible water (wells, tanks, drinking water points), protect and feed animals—especially cows—and contribute to community resources; the Purana frames such acts as durable merit tied to ethical living and compassionate stewardship.