Shloka 14

Dāna for the Preta: Supreme Gifts, Yama’s Pacification, and Viṣṇu-Smaraṇa at the Time of Death

Devanagari script

लोहदानाद्यमस्तुष्येद्धर्म राजस्तिलार्पणात् / लवणे दीयमाने तु न भयं विद्यते यमात्

Transliteration

lohadānādyamastuṣyeddharma rājastilārpaṇāt / lavaṇe dīyamāne tu na bhayaṃ vidyate yamāt

Translation

Durch die Gabe von Eisen wird Yama zufrieden; und durch das Darbringen von Sesam an Dharmarāja erlangt man seine Gunst. Wird Salz als Almosen gegeben, so bleibt keine Furcht vor Yama bestehen.

Word by Word

• loha-dānāt: from the gift of iron
• loha-dānāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loha (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोहेन/लोहस्य दानम्)

• ādyaṃ: first/primarily
• ādyaṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अस्तुṣyet् इत्यस्य कर्म/विषयवाचक)

• astuṣyet: should not be satisfied
• astuṣyet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tuṣ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; नकारार्थे (निषेधार्थे)

• dharma-rājaḥ: Dharma-king (Yama)
• dharma-rājaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (धर्म एव राजा)

• tila-arpaṇāt: from offering sesame
• tila-arpaṇāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक) + arpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तिलानाम् अर्पणम्)

• lavaṇe: in/with salt (when salt is given)
• lavaṇe: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lavaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• dīyamāne: when being given
• dīyamāne: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्तः (Present passive participle); सप्तमी एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; 'दत्ते सति' अर्थे (locative absolute)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• bhayaṃ: fear
• bhayaṃ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• vidyate: exists/is found
• vidyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; भावे/सत्तायाम् (exists)

• yamāt: from Yama
• yamāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna as a karmic countermeasure that appeases Dharmarāja and mitigates punitive outcomes.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama under īśvara-adhīnatva (moral order governed by Dharma).

Application: Perform charity of iron, sesame, and salt with intention of dharma and fearlessness; integrate dāna into regular household practice, especially near rites for the departed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: court/realm of Yama (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta-kalpa: dāna as protection from Yama and naraka (adjacent verses 2.30.15–18)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Dharmaraja

FAQs

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

This verse states that specific donations—iron, sesame, and salt—are prescribed as appeasing acts that please Dharmarāja (Yama) and remove fear associated with Yama’s judgment.

How does this verse explain the soul’s situation after death?

Within the Preta Kanda context, the departed is described as facing Yama’s authority; the verse presents dāna as a practical remedy that supports the deceased and reduces the dread of Yama’s realm and its consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charitable giving—especially sesame and salt as part of śrāddha-related charity—while cultivating dharma in life, as the text links such offerings with easing post-death anxiety and aligning with moral order.