Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 6

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

यज्वा दानपतिः श्रीमान्ब्रह्मण्यः साधुसंमतः / शीलाचारगुणोपेतो दयादाक्षिण्यसंयुतः

Transliteration

yajvā dānapatiḥ śrīmānbrahmaṇyaḥ sādhusaṃmataḥ / śīlācāraguṇopeto dayādākṣiṇyasaṃyutaḥ

Translation

كان مُقيمًا لليَجْنَا (القرابين الطقسية)، سيّدًا في الصدقة، ذا سَعةٍ وبركة؛ مُكرِّمًا للبراهمة وللدارما، مُستحسَنًا عند الصالحين؛ متحلّيًا بحسن الخُلُق واستقامة السلوك والفضائل، مقرونًا بالرحمة والسخاء.

Word by Word

• यज्वा: a sacrificer (one who performs yajña)
• यज्वा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्विप्/वन् (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• दानपतिः: lord of gifts; generous patron
• दानपतिः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान-पति (प्रातिपदिक; दान + पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• श्रीमान्: prosperous; illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्यय (possessive)

• ब्रह्मण्यः: devoted to Brahmins / pious
• ब्रह्मण्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• साधुसंमतः: approved by the good (people)
• साधुसंमतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधु-संमत (प्रातिपदिक; साधु + संमत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शीलाचारगुणोपेतः: endowed with good conduct, practice, and virtues
• शीलाचारगुणोपेतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शील-आचार-गुण-उपेत (प्रातिपदिक; शील + आचार + गुण + उपेत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दया-दाक्षिण्य-सम्युतः: possessed of compassion and generosity
• दया-दाक्षिण्य-सम्युतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दया-दाक्षिण्य-सम्युत (प्रातिपदिक; दया + दाक्षिण्य + सम्युत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Integrated dharma: yajña (sacrifice), dāna (charity), brahmaṇya (support of brahmins/veda), and personal virtues (śīla, ācāra, dayā, dākṣiṇya) together constitute righteous life.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-śuddhi through karma-yoga-like dharmic action; sattva cultivation as preparation for higher knowledge.

Application: Practice consistent generosity, support learning and ethical institutions, cultivate compassion and courteous giving; align ritual action with character.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of dāna-pati and śrāddha-supporting virtues as causes of auspicious post-death outcomes

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas
• Sadhus (the righteous)

FAQs

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

This verse presents dāna as a defining mark of the dharmic person—paired with yajña, compassion, and right conduct—implying that generosity is a primary source of merit (puṇya) supporting spiritual welfare.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa framework, virtues like yajña, dāna, and dayā are repeatedly treated as merit-producing qualities that help a being face post-death judgment and transitions with greater spiritual support.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice regular giving, maintain ethical conduct, support sacred learning and service-minded communities, and cultivate compassion—making dharma a daily habit rather than an occasional ritual.