Shloka 107

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणैः श्वापदैश्चैव पतनैर्वृक्षवैद्युतैः / नखैर्लोहैर्गिरेः पातैर्भित्तिपातैर्भृगोस्तथा

Transliteration

brāhmaṇaiḥ śvāpadaiścaiva patanairvṛkṣavaidyutaiḥ / nakhairlohairgireḥ pātairbhittipātairbhṛgostathā

Translation

He is afflicted by (the curse or wrath of) Brāhmaṇas, by wild beasts, by falls, by trees and lightning; by claws and iron weapons, by falling from a mountain, by the collapse of walls, and likewise by falling from a precipice.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणैः: by/through Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• श्वापदैः: by wild beasts
• श्वापदैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वापद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन — Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात — conjunction/particle

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात — emphatic particle

• पतनैः: by falls (downfalls)
• पतनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन — Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• वृक्ष-वैद्युतैः: by lightning striking trees
• वृक्ष-वैद्युतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + वैद्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन — Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वृक्षस्य वैद्युतम्) — lightning of/at a tree

• नखैः: by nails/claws
• नखैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• लोहैः: by iron/metal
• लोहैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन — Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• गिरेः: of a mountain
• गिरेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पातैः: by falls (falling)
• पातैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• भित्ति-पातैः: by the collapse of walls
• भित्ति-पातैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भित्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भित्तेः पातः) — fall of a wall

• भृगोः: of Bhṛgu
• भृगोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तथा: likewise/so also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय — adverb of manner

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma and accumulated papa manifest as diverse external afflictions and violent/accidental deaths.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala as niyati operating through apparent chance; the body’s vulnerability under prarabdha.

Application: Cultivate restraint and dharma, seek reconciliation with offended persons (especially brahmanas), and adopt protective sadachara to reduce causes of violent death.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: durmarana/apasamaskrita-mrityu leading to preta-bhava (context of 2.4.109–111); Garuda Purana: naraka descriptions tied to papa and violent deaths (Pretakalpa sections)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• wild beasts

FAQs

What is the importance of listing these dangers in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a karmic warning: it enumerates forms of suffering and sudden calamity that can be experienced due to adharma and negative karmic causes, urging restraint, right conduct, and reverence for dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Preta Kanda context?

In the Preta Kanda narrative, such descriptions highlight the precarious condition of the preta and the consequences of past actions—showing that suffering may manifest as violent accidents, attacks, and terrifying events along the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain dharmic conduct (especially non-harm and truthfulness), avoid actions that invite social and spiritual censure, and support death-rites and charity with sincerity—treating the teaching as a call to ethical living and disciplined behavior.