Shloka 19

Preta-mārga Supports (Dāna), Chitragupta’s Accounting, and the Enumeration of Narakas

Devanagari script

आसने स्वागते (भोजने) चैव दत्तं तस्मै द्विजायते / सुखेन भुङ्क्ते स प्रेतः पथि गच्छञ्छनैः शनैः

Transliteration

āsane svāgate (bhojane) caiva dattaṃ tasmai dvijāyate / sukhena bhuṅkte sa pretaḥ pathi gacchañchanaiḥ śanaiḥ

Translation

Wenn man einem Dvija (Brahmanen) Sitz, ehrerbietigen Empfang und auch Speise darreicht, dann genießt der Preta eben diese Gabe in Leichtigkeit, während er langsam den Weg nach dem Tod entlanggeht.

Word by Word

• आसने: in/for a seat
• आसने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• स्वागते: in/at welcome (hospitality)
• स्वागते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वागत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; (स्वागत-भोज्यादौ) अधिकरण

• भोजने: in/at a meal
• भोजने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; (पाठान्तर/कोष्ठकस्थ)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण/निश्चयार्थक निपात (emphatic)

• दत्तम्: given (a gift)
• दत्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• द्विजायते: to a twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विजायते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; (द्विजाय) + इति/ते (पाठभेदसम्भव); अर्थतः ‘द्विजाय’

• सुखेन: comfortably, with ease
• सुखेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial instrumental)

• भुङ्क्ते: enjoys, eats
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रेतः: the departed spirit
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• गच्छन्: going
• गच्छन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle)

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Sambandha/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शनैः: very slowly
• शनैः: Sambandha/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Atithi-satkāra and feeding the dvija, when done with right intent, becomes nourishment and ease for the departed on the post-death path.

Vedantic Theme: Yajña-bhāva in daily acts (offering-spirit) purifies the doer; karma becomes supportive conditions for the jīva’s journey.

Application: Practice hospitality: offer seat, respectful welcome, and food to deserving guests/priests/needful persons; dedicate merit to ancestors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: path/road segment with pauses

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: atithi-dharma and śrāddha-adjacent gifting as preta-upakāra (aid to the departed); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated emphasis that offerings to brāhmaṇas reach the preta

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Dvija (Brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of hospitality (āsana, svāgata, bhojana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that honoring and feeding a dvija is not merely social etiquette—it becomes subtle support that the preta can ‘enjoy’ as sustenance/relief during its post-death journey.

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

It describes the preta moving along a difficult route “slowly, step by step,” and indicates that merits generated through offerings to a worthy recipient translate into comfort and nourishment for the departing being on that path.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice atithi-satkara and charitable feeding, especially during śrāddha-related observances, with sincerity—treating such giving as dharma that supports ancestors and cultivates compassion in daily life.