Shloka 42

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

ऋग्वेदपारगे दद्याज्जातसस्यां वसुन्धराम् / यजुर्वेदमये विप्रे गाञ्च दद्यात्पयस्विनीम्

Transliteration

ṛgvedapārage dadyājjātasasyāṃ vasundharām / yajurvedamaye vipre gāñca dadyātpayasvinīm

Translation

Einem Brāhmaṇa, der im Ṛgveda bewandert ist, soll man fruchtbares Land schenken, reich an frisch aufgegangenem Korn. Und einem Brāhmaṇa, der im Yajurveda gefestigt ist, soll man eine milchgebende Kuh schenken.

Word by Word

• ऋग्वेद-पारगे: to a master of the Rigveda
• ऋग्वेद-पारगे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋग्वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; Dative singular; ‘to one who has mastered the Ṛgveda’

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• जातसस्याम्: newly-grown crop/harvest
• जातसस्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जातसस्या (प्रातिपदिक; जात + सस्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• वसुन्धराम्: land/earth (a plot of land)
• वसुन्धराम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुन्धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• यजुर्वेद-मये: to a Yajurveda-knower
• यजुर्वेद-मये: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजुर्वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; Dative singular; ‘to one versed in the Yajurveda’

• विप्रे: to the Brahmin
• विप्रे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; Dative singular; in apposition to यजुर्वेदमये

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• पयस्विनीम्: milk-yielding
• पयस्विनीम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पयस्विनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agrees with गाम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As part of śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-adjacent dāna-vidhi; performed after the main offerings as prescribed in the sequence.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Appropriate dāna to qualified recipients (pātra) according to śākhā/veda-adhyayana.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: purifying action through niṣkāma-dāna and respect for śruti.

Application: Support learned teachers/priests with context-appropriate gifts; align charity with genuine competence and community need.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.40 (dāna-vidhi and śrāddha/antyeṣṭi adjuncts)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Ṛgveda
• Yajurveda

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charitable gifting) in the Garuda Purana’s death-ritual context?

This verse frames dāna as a targeted, scripture-aligned act: gifts like fertile land and a milk-giving cow are prescribed to support qualified Vedic Brāhmaṇas, thereby generating merit intended to aid preta-śānti and śrāddha outcomes.

How does this verse relate to śrāddha and post-death rites in the Preta Kanda?

Within the Preta Kanda’s ritual instructions, it specifies appropriate recipients and gifts—land to a Ṛgveda-knower and a milk-yielding cow to a Yajurveda-knower—linking orthodox Vedic support with the ritual economy of śrāddha for the departed.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Support authentic learning and service connected to Vedic/ritual traditions—through ethical charity, funding education, or donating resources—while ensuring the gift is given respectfully to qualified recipients and without harm or coercion.