Shloka 92
जलाशयो नैव कृतो हि निर्जले मनुष्यहेतोः पशुपक्षिहेतवे / गोतृप्तिहेतोर्न कृतं हि गोचरं देहिन्क्वचिन्नस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम्
jalāśayo naiva kṛto hi nirjale manuṣyahetoḥ paśupakṣihetave / gotṛptihetorna kṛtaṃ hi gocaraṃ dehinkvacinnastara yattvayā kṛtam
In a waterless place you made no reservoir—neither for the sake of people nor for cattle and birds. Nor did you ever provide grazing land to satisfy the cows. O embodied one, you have done nothing for us anywhere—O Astara.
Messengers/agents of Yama (Yamadūtas), addressing the deceased soul
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Paropakāra through provisioning water and pasture is high puṇya; omission becomes a cause of suffering later.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga as service to beings (bhūta-hita) purifying the mind toward higher knowledge.
Application: Support community water access (wells, tanks, bird baths), animal welfare, and ecological commons; treat infrastructure charity as spiritual practice.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: wilderness/settlement-edge
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dana categories praising water-gifts, wells, ponds, and go-seva (general parallel)
FAQs
This verse treats creating water sources in dry regions as a high-value act of dharma that supports humans, cattle, and birds, becoming merit that can be recalled in the after-death accounting of karma.
In the Preta Kanda context, Yama’s attendants evaluate the deceased person’s deeds; the verse shows that neglect of public-benefit charity (water, pasture, care for cows) leaves the soul without supportive merit when facing judgment and hardship on the post-death path.
Support accessible water (wells, tanks, drinking water points), protect and feed animals—especially cows—and contribute to community resources; the Purana frames such acts as durable merit tied to ethical living and compassionate stewardship.