Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

श्रीभगवानुवाच / गृह्णाति वरुणो दानं मम हस्ते प्रयच्छति / अहं च भास्करे देवे भास्करात्सो ऽश्नुते सुखम्

Transliteration

śrībhagavānuvāca / gṛhṇāti varuṇo dānaṃ mama haste prayacchati / ahaṃ ca bhāskare deve bhāskarātso 'śnute sukham

Translation

Der erhabene Herr sprach: Varuṇa nimmt die Gabe der Wohltätigkeit an und legt sie in Meine Hand; und wenn sie der Gottheit Bhāskara (der Sonne) dargebracht wird, nimmt jener Mensch durch Bhāskara am Glück teil.

Word by Word

• श्रीभगवान्: the venerable Lord
• श्रीभगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + भगवान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (श्रीमान् भगवान्)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• गृह्णाति: takes/accepts
• गृह्णाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दानम्: gift, donation
• दानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हस्ते: in (my) hand
• हस्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रयच्छति: gives, hands over
• प्रयच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्गः—प्र

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भास्करे: in/at Bhāskara (the Sun)
• भास्करे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• देवे: in the deity
• देवे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• भास्करात्: from Bhāskara (the Sun)
• भास्करात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

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

• अश्नुते: attains/enjoys
• अश्नुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Śrī Bhagavān)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna offered with proper devatā-sambandha yields puṇya and happiness; offerings move through divine agency.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as antaryāmin and dispenser of karma-phala through devatā-adhikāra (instrumental deities).

Application: Perform charity/offerings with right intention and correct devatā-address (here Sūrya/Bhāskara), cultivating gratitude and ethical giving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: karma-phala distribution via Yama/daiva (general thematic parallel); Garuda Purana: dāna-mahātmyas and devatā-tarpaṇa passages (sectional parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Varuṇa
• Bhāskara (Sūrya)
• Lord Vishnu

FAQs

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

This verse presents dāna as a spiritually mediated act: the offering is received by Varuṇa and reaches the Lord, yielding a defined fruit—happiness—when directed to Bhāskara (the Sun).

How does this verse relate to the soul’s welfare after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, it supports the idea that properly directed gifts and rites generate merit (puṇya) that translates into comfort and well-being, aiding the departed’s post-death condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give charity with clear intention and reverence—especially acts connected to dharma and daily worship (such as offerings connected with Sūrya)—as a disciplined practice of merit, gratitude, and ethical living.