Shloka 24

The Explanation of Various Gifts (Dāna) and the Soul’s Entry into Another Body

Devanagari script

एतत् ते कथितं तार्क्ष्य दानमन्त्येष्टिकर्मजम् / अधुना कथयिष्ये ऽहमन्यदेहप्रवेशनम्

Transliteration

etat te kathitaṃ tārkṣya dānamantyeṣṭikarmajam / adhunā kathayiṣye 'hamanyadehapraveśanam

Translation

O Tārkṣya (Garuda), so habe ich dir die Gaben erklärt, die mit den Totenriten (antyeṣṭi) verbunden sind. Nun werde ich das Eingehen der Seele in einen anderen Körper schildern.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र कर्मरूपेण (कथितम्—'this has been told')

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी) एकवचन (enclitic); सम्बोधन-सम्बन्धे (to you/for you)

• कथितम्: has been told
• कथितम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) → कथित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे वाक्यक्रिया (has been told)

• तार्क्ष्य: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• तार्क्ष्य: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• दानम्: the gift/charity
• दानम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; 'एतत्' इत्यस्य विशेष्य/समनाधिकरण

• अन्त्येष्टिकर्मजम्: arising from the funeral rites
• अन्त्येष्टिकर्मजम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त्येष्टि + कर्म + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः (अन्त्येष्टेः कर्मणः जातम्)

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• कथयिष्ये: I will tell
• कथयिष्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• अन्यदेहप्रवेशनम्: entry into another body
• अन्यदेहप्रवेशनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य + देह + प्रवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः (अन्यस्य देहस्य प्रवेशः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Conclusion of antyeṣṭi-related dāna teaching (explicit)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Having taught antyeṣṭi-related dāna, the text pivots to the doctrine of transmigration—how the jīva enters another body.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra and subtle-body continuity; transition from ritual efficacy (karma) to metaphysical explanation (jñāna).

Application: Use ritual teachings as a gateway to deeper inquiry: reflect on impermanence, causality, and ethical living in light of rebirth doctrine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue setting (Hari–Garuḍa discourse)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections on ‘anyadeha-praveśa’/rebirth mechanics following Pretakalpa instructions; Garuda Purana: antyeṣṭi-dāna catalogues preceding doctrinal exposition

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tārkṣya)

FAQs

What is the importance of antyeṣṭi-related dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames antyeṣṭi-dāna as a distinct, rite-born form of giving that supports the post-death transition and prepares the discussion for the soul’s next embodiment.

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

It marks a narrative shift: after finishing the topic of funeral rites and donations, the text moves to the doctrine of how the jīva proceeds toward another embodiment—“entering another body.”

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform funeral rites with sincerity and appropriate charity, and reflect on rebirth as a moral incentive to live responsibly and accumulate dharmic merit.