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Shloka 30

The Preta’s Staged Journey to Yama’s City: Monthly Śrāddha Supports, Vaitaraṇī Crossing, and the Witnesses of Deeds

Devanagari script

स्वस्थावस्थे शरीरे ऽत्र वैतरण्या व्रतं चरेत् / देया च विदुषे धेनुस्तां नदीं तर्तुमिच्छता

Transliteration

svasthāvasthe śarīre 'tra vaitaraṇyā vrataṃ caret / deyā ca viduṣe dhenustāṃ nadīṃ tartumicchatā

Translation

Solange der Körper in diesem Leben noch gesund ist, sollte man das Vaitaraṇī-Gelübde ablegen; und wer diesen (furchterregenden) Fluss überqueren möchte, sollte auch einem gelehrten Menschen eine Kuh schenken.

Word by Word
स्वस्थावस्थेin a healthy state
स्वस्थावस्थे:
Adhikarana (Time/State/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootस्वस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (locative), एकवचन (singular); ‘स्वस्था अवस्था’ इति — in a healthy condition
शरीरेin the body
शरीरे:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootशरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (locative), एकवचन (singular)
अत्रhere
अत्र:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअत्र (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)
वैतरण्याःof Vaitaraṇī (rite)
वैतरण्याः:
Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootवैतरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन (singular)
व्रतम्vow, observance
व्रतम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative), एकवचन (singular)
चरेत्should perform/practise
चरेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√चर् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)
देयाshould be given
देया:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया-भाव)
TypeAdjective
Root√दा (धातु) → देय (कृदन्त; यत्/णीयत्-भाव ‘to be given’)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन (singular); विधेय (gerundive) — ‘should be given’
चand
च:
—
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)
विदुषेto a learned man
विदुषे:
Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootविद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (dative), एकवचन (singular)
धेनुःcow
धेनुः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootधेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन (singular)
ताम्that (river)
ताम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
Formसर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन
नदीम्river
नदीम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootनदी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ताम् इत्यस्य विशेष्य
तर्तुम्to cross
तर्तुम्:
Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
TypeVerb
Root√तॄ (धातु)
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive) — ‘to cross’
इच्छताby one wishing
इच्छता:
Karana (Agent-instrumental/करण)
TypeAdjective
Root√इष्/इच्छ् (धातु) → इच्छत् (कृदन्त; शतृ)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental), एकवचन (singular); शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त — ‘by one who desires’
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: while healthy in this life (svasthe śarīre)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Undertake Vaitaraṇī-vrata while capable; give a cow to a vidvān as a deliberate means of securing safe passage after death.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga and foresight: right action performed in strength protects in weakness; dharma as preparation for the inevitable.

Application: Practice planned giving and vows/observances while healthy; support genuine learning and integrity in recipients; make end-of-life preparations early.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: vow/ritual context (vrata and dāna)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Vaitaraṇī-vrata prescriptions and dāna to brāhmaṇa/vidvān in the same section; Garuda Purana: broader śrāddha and dāna chapters emphasizing timely performance

Characters & Entities
V
Vaitarani

FAQs

This verse teaches that the Vaitaraṇī-vrata should be performed while one is healthy, as a deliberate preparation for the post-death journey and for overcoming the feared Vaitaraṇī passage.

It implies that the after-death route includes a difficult crossing of the Vaitaraṇī river, and that meritorious acts done during life—vows and charitable gifts—become spiritual supports on that journey.

Do spiritual disciplines proactively (not at the last moment) and practice meaningful charity—supporting learned teachers and dharmic causes—so one’s life is aligned with preparedness, generosity, and dharma.

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