Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

मनुजानां हिता तार्क्ष्य अन्ते वैतरणी स्मृता / तयावमत्य पापौघं विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति

Transliteration

manujānāṃ hitā tārkṣya ante vaitaraṇī smṛtā / tayāvamatya pāpaughaṃ viṣṇulokaṃ sa gacchati

Translation

„O Tārkṣya (Garuda), zum Wohle der Menschen wird am Ende das (Hinübergehen über) die Vaitaraṇī gelehrt. Wer sie überschreitet, übersteigt die Flut der Sünden und gelangt zur Wohnstatt Viṣṇus.“

Word by Word

• मनुजानाम्: of humans
• मनुजानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्; बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive plural)

• हिता: beneficial
• हिता: Predicate adjective (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (धा/हि धातु + क्त कृदन्त; प्रातिपदिकरूपेण)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-विशेषणम्; स्त्रीलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nom. singular); वैतरणी इति विशेषणम्

• तार्क्ष्य: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• तार्क्ष्य: Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative singular)

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्ययम् (particle; indeed)

• वैतरणी: Vaitaraṇī (river)
• वैतरणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैतरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative singular)

• स्मृता: is called/known
• स्मृता: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः; स्त्रीलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nom. singular); कर्मणि भावः (is called/remembered)

• तया: by that (river)
• तया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental singular)

• अवमत्य: having crossed/overcome
• अवमत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अव + मन् (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्यय-कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्तम् (gerund); क्रियाविशेषणम् (having crossed/overcome)

• पापौघम्: flood/mass of sins
• पापौघम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (पापानाम् ओघः); पुंलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative singular)

• विष्णुलोकम्: Viṣṇu's world
• विष्णुलोकम्: Karma (Goal as object/गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + लोक (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (विष्णोः लोकः); पुंलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative singular)

• गच्छति: goes
• गच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (goes)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Tārkṣya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: End-of-life passage: transcending pāpa through the taught means of crossing Vaitaraṇī, culminating in reaching Viṣṇuloka.

Vedantic Theme: Grace-assisted purification and transition from karmic bondage toward the Lord’s abode; dharma/bhakti as salvific supports at the final threshold.

Application: Live with end-of-life preparedness: cultivate dharma and Vishnu-smriti so the ‘final crossing’ is inwardly supported by purified tendencies.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: river

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa descriptions of the soul’s journey and boundary crossings (Vaitarani motif); Garuda Purana 2.30.47 (liberation through dharma)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tārkṣya)
• Vaitaraṇī
• Vishnu (Viṣṇuloka)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vaitaraṇī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Vaitaraṇī as a decisive afterlife passage taught for human welfare—crossing it signifies overcoming accumulated sin and moving toward Viṣṇu’s realm.

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

It frames the journey as culminating in a critical crossing (Vaitaraṇī); successfully passing beyond it marks transcendence of sinful burdens and progression to a higher divine destination (Viṣṇuloka).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live to reduce “pāpaugha” through dharma, devotion, and ethical conduct; for practitioners, it also supports faith in śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-linked teachings about aiding the departed toward auspicious realms.