Shloka 17

Devanagari script

आतपस्तत्र यो रौद्रो दह्यते येन मानवः / छत्रदानेन सुच्छाया जायते प्रेततुष्टिदा

Transliteration

ātapastatra yo raudro dahyate yena mānavaḥ / chatradānena succhāyā jāyate pretatuṣṭidā

Translation

There, the fierce heat scorches a person. By the gift of an umbrella, excellent shade is obtained—bringing satisfaction and comfort to the preta, the departed spirit.

Word by Word

• आतपः: heat, sunshine
• आतपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• यः: which/that (who)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• रौद्रः: fierce, scorching
• रौद्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ātapaḥ)

• दह्यते: is burned/is scorched
• दह्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• मानवः: a man, human
• मानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• छत्रदानेन: by the gift of an umbrella
• छत्रदानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (छत्रस्य दानम्)

• सुच्छाया: good shade
• सुच्छाया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सु + छाया = उत्तमा छाया)

• जायते: arises, is produced
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• प्रेततुष्टिदा: giving satisfaction to the departed (preta)
• प्रेततुष्टिदा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + तुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (प्रेतानां तुष्टिं ददाति इति)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna transforms into tangible protection for the preta; compassionate acts mitigate suffering on the after-death path.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama (inevitability of results) within saṃsāra; ethical action as purifier though not itself final liberation.

Application: Give umbrellas/shade (especially to travelers, ascetics, the poor) with the sankalpa of benefiting ancestors; cultivate compassion for beings in distress.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: liminal road/waystation

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: dāna-phala descriptions for the preta’s journey (umbrella/shade motifs recur in dāna sections); Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa: gifts offered with pitṛ-sankalpa yielding comfort to departed

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of chatra-dana (donating an umbrella) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the preta faces harsh, scorching conditions; donating an umbrella generates protective shade, symbolically and karmically providing relief and satisfaction to the departed.

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

It implies the preta’s post-death journey involves suffering from environmental hardships like intense heat, and that prescribed acts of dana performed by the living can mitigate that distress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charity with the intention of welfare for the departed—such as donating umbrellas or shade-giving items—alongside Shraddha observances, cultivating compassion and responsibility toward ancestors.