Shloka 24
Dāna for the Preta: Supreme Gifts, Yama’s Pacification, and Viṣṇu-Smaraṇa at the Time of Death
लोहदानञ्च दातव्यं भूमियुक्तेन पाणिना / यमं भीमञ्च नाप्नोति न गच्छेत् तस्य वेश्मनि
lohadānañca dātavyaṃ bhūmiyuktena pāṇinā / yamaṃ bhīmañca nāpnoti na gacchet tasya veśmani
Man soll auch die Gabe des Eisens darbringen, mit der Hand die Erde berührend. Durch dieses Verdienst begegnet man Yama und den Schrecken seines Reiches nicht und gelangt nicht in Yamas Wohnstatt.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Dāna as a karmic countermeasure that averts fearful encounter with Yama and his realm.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyati under Dharma; upāya (remedial act) reduces adverse prārabdha-like outcomes at death.
Application: Perform loha-dāna with humility (hand touching earth as a grounding/niyama gesture), especially near illness/old age; cultivate regular charity to reduce fear of death.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: divine court/abode
Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: dāna-prakaraṇa on deathbed gifts and Yama-avoidance motifs (same adhyāya context)
FAQs
This verse states that gifting iron—performed with ritual humility by touching the earth—acts as a protective merit that prevents one from encountering Yama’s fearful domain.
It frames charity (dāna) as a post-death safeguard: the merit of specific gifts is said to reduce or remove the soul’s exposure to Yama’s realm and its terrors.
Practice ethical charity with reverence and humility—offer useful materials (including iron/metal items) sincerely, and cultivate dharmic conduct that reduces fear and harm in life and after death.