Shloka 79

Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

दीपदानं प्रकर्तव्यमावर्षन्तु गृहाद्बहिः / अन्नं दीपो जलं वस्त्रमन्यद्वादीयते च यत्

Transliteration

dīpadānaṃ prakartavyamāvarṣantu gṛhādbahiḥ / annaṃ dīpo jalaṃ vastramanyadvādīyate ca yat

Translation

Gewiss soll die Gabe einer Lampe (dīpa-dāna) dargebracht werden, und sie soll außerhalb des Hauses stehen, damit sie die Nacht hindurch brenne. Speise, Lampe, Wasser, Kleidung und alles andere, was angemessen ist, soll ebenfalls als Almosen gegeben werden.

Word by Word

• दीप-दानम्: the giving of a lamp
• दीप-दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दीपस्य दानम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रकर्तव्यम्: should be performed
• प्रकर्तव्यम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: कर्तव्य (तव्यत्) कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय/कर्तव्यता (ought to be done)

• आवर्षम्: for a year / throughout the year
• आवर्षम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आवर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; कालवाचक—‘आवर्षम्’ = for a year/throughout the year

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Sambandha/Particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेष/विरोधार्थक

• गृहात्: from the house
• गृहात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान (from)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (outside)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दीपः: lamp
• दीपः: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वस्त्रम्: cloth/garment
• वस्त्रम्: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha/Particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• दीयते: is given
• दीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• यत्: whatever (that)
• यत्: Karta (Relative/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम—‘whatever’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Night placement ‘āvarṣam’ (through the night) during śrāddha-associated period

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna (lamp, food, water, clothing) as supportive dharma accompanying śrāddha; light as a symbol of auspicious guidance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifying karma; sattva-enhancing acts that support social and subtle welfare.

Application: Offer a lamp outside through the night; give food, water, clothing, and suitable charity to the needy/ritual recipients during śrāddha period.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: threshold/courtyard

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dāna prescriptions accompanying śrāddha (nearby verses); Garuda Purana: dīpa-dāna praised in various contexts (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Pretas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of dīpa-dāna (lamp donation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes dīpa-dāna as a definite duty, emphasizing light as a meritorious gift; in Preta-related rites it symbolizes guidance and support through dharmic charity.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and the preta’s journey?

In the Preta Kanda context, recommended gifts like food, water, clothing, and a lamp are offerings of merit (puṇya) meant to aid and steady the departed’s transitional state, aligning household conduct with śrāddha-oriented dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charity in the spirit of this verse—offer food, water, clothing, and light (or support these needs for others), especially during remembrance rites, keeping the focus on compassion and dharmic giving.