Shloka 32

Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite

Devanagari script

विष्णुरूप द्विजश्रेष्ठ मामुद्धर महीसुर / सदक्षिणा मया दत्ता तुभ्यं वैतरणीनमः

Transliteration

viṣṇurūpa dvijaśreṣṭha māmuddhara mahīsura / sadakṣiṇā mayā dattā tubhyaṃ vaitaraṇīnamaḥ

Translation

يا أفضلَ ذوي الميلادَين، يا من يحمل صورةَ فيشنو—يا سيدَ الأرض—أنقِذني. لقد قدّمتُ لك القربانَ الطقسيّ مع الدكشِنا (العطيّة الكهنوتية)؛ لكَ السجودُ بوصفك «فايتَرَني» التي تُعَبِّرُ بالمرء إلى الضفّة الأخرى.

Word by Word

• viṣṇu-rūpa: O one of Viṣṇu-form
• viṣṇu-rūpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) ‘whose form is Viṣṇu’; Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) (addressing the priest)

• dvija-śreṣṭha: O best of Brahmins
• dvija-śreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘best among twice-born’; Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• uddhara: lift up/save
• uddhara: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud+dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mahī-sura: O earth-god (Brahmin)
• mahī-sura: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘god of the earth’ = ‘Brahmin’; Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• sa-dakṣiṇā: together with the priestly fee
• sa-dakṣiṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह-प्रातिपदिक) + dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘with dakṣiṇā (fee)’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies ‘(vaitaraṇī) dānam’ understood

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dattā: given
• dattā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with implied feminine noun (e.g., ‘(vaitaraṇī) dhenuḥ’ or ‘(dānam)’)

• tubhyam: to you
• tubhyam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vaitaraṇīm: Vaitaraṇī (gift/cow)
• vaitaraṇīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaitaraṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• namaḥ: homage
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय) salutation

Speaker

A departing soul (preta/jīva) addressing a brāhmaṇa as Viṣṇu’s representative during Vaitaraṇī-related rites

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after death/within preta-kāla as part of preta-uddhāra supports; performed in conjunction with śrāddha-dāna sequence per tradition.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna with dakṣiṇā and reverence to the worthy recipient becomes a karmic support for safe passage after death.

Vedantic Theme: Grace mediated through bhakti and right action; the ‘Viṣṇu-rūpa’ brāhmaṇa as a locus for honoring Nārāyaṇa in embodied form.

Application: Perform prescribed charity with proper honor and fee; cultivate humility and remembrance of Viṣṇu at life’s transitions, especially death rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: river crossing / liminal ford

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.47: Vaitaraṇī-dhenu rite and its mantras; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of the Vaitaraṇī crossing and aids through dāna

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahmana (Dvija)
• Vaitarani

FAQs

What is the importance of Vaitaraṇī in the Garuda Purana?

Vaitaraṇī is described as a crucial “crossing” in the post-death journey; this verse shows the soul seeking rescue through a sacred rite and the brāhmaṇa’s mediation, treated as a Viṣṇu-representative who enables passage.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It portrays the preta appealing for deliverance at a perilous transition (symbolized by Vaitaraṇī), indicating that proper rites and sanctioned giving (including dakṣiṇā) are considered supportive aids for the soul’s onward movement.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform post-death rites conscientiously, give dakṣiṇā with respect and faith, and treat ritual service as sacred—supporting ethical giving, gratitude, and responsibility toward ancestors and the departed.