Shloka 40

Moksha and Svarga through Dāna, Tīrtha, Nāma-smaraṇa, and Bhāva

Devanagari script

दानं साधोर्दरिद्रस्य शून्यलिङ्गस्य पूजनम् / अनाथप्रेतसंस्कारः कोटियज्ञफलप्रदः

Transliteration

dānaṃ sādhordaridrasya śūnyaliṅgasya pūjanam / anāthapretasaṃskāraḥ koṭiyajñaphalapradaḥ

Translation

Gabe an einen tugendhaften Armen, Verehrung eines Liṅga, an dem kein festes Zeichen errichtet ist, und die Vollziehung der Totenriten für einen schutzlosen, herrenlosen Geist — dies alles verleiht die Frucht von Millionen Opferhandlungen (yajña).

Word by Word

• dānam: gift; charity
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sādhoḥ: of a virtuous person
• sādhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• daridrasya: of (one who is) poor
• daridrasya: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daridra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); used adjectivally qualifying sādhu

• śūnya-liṅgasya: of one without distinguishing marks
• śūnya-liṅgasya: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūnya (प्रातिपदिक) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘liṅgaṃ yasya śūnyam’ (one whose external marks are absent) used adjectivally

• pūjanam: worship; honoring
• pūjanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• anātha-preta-saṃskāraḥ: funeral rites for an unclaimed dead person
• anātha-preta-saṃskāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anātha (प्रातिपदिक) + preta (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃskāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘anāthasya pretasya saṃskāraḥ’ (funeral rites of an unclaimed dead person)

• koṭi-yajña-phala-pradaḥ: granting the merit of crores of sacrifices
• koṭi-yajña-phala-pradaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘koṭi-yajñānāṃ phalaṃ pradāti’ (giver of the fruit of crores of sacrifices) qualifying saṃskāraḥ

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: When an unclaimed/helpless deceased is found; performed promptly as antyeṣṭi/preta-saṃskāra

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Three acts—dāna to a virtuous poor person, worship of an unestablished/neglected liṅga, and rites for an unclaimed preta—yield immense merit equal to countless yajñas.

Vedantic Theme: Compassionate action as antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi; honoring the dead and the neglected as recognition of the same ātman in all; yajña-fruit is accessible through dayā-based dharma.

Application: Support the deserving poor; maintain/serve neglected sacred spaces; ensure dignified last rites for the unclaimed (community funeral support, cremation aid, remembrance).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual site (śmaśāna/temple)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections praising anātha-preta-kriyā and śrāddha as high merit; Pretakalpa discussions on preta’s dependence on rites and offerings

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Shiva (liṅga)

FAQs

What is the importance of anāthapreta-saṃskāra (rites for the unclaimed dead) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing funeral rites for an unprotected or unclaimed preta is an exceptionally meritorious dharmic act, yielding the equivalent fruit of vast numbers of yajñas.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death in the Garuda Purana context?

By highlighting preta-saṃskāra, the verse implies that proper post-death rites support the departed in the preta condition; when no relatives perform them, a compassionate practitioner can fulfill that duty and generate great merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support the needy and virtuous through dāna, participate in or sponsor dignified last rites for those without family, and engage in sincere worship—treating these as high-value dharmic responsibilities rather than mere formalities.