Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

दाना न्यन्यान्यपि खग तर्पयेत्स्वीयशक्तितः / प्रायाश्चित्तं कृतं येन दश दानान्यपि क्षितौ

Transliteration

dānā nyanyānyapi khaga tarpayetsvīyaśaktitaḥ / prāyāścittaṃ kṛtaṃ yena daśa dānānyapi kṣitau

Translation

O Bird (Garuda), one should also satisfy the prescribed recipients through other gifts, according to one’s own capacity. By this, expiation (prāyaścitta) is fulfilled—indeed, upon the earth even ten kinds of charitable giving are to be performed for purification.

Word by Word

• दानानि: gifts, donations
• दानानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• अन्यानि: other
• अन्यानि: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; विशेषण (दानानि)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे ‘also/even’

• खग: O bird (Garuda)
• खग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• तर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer (to satisfy)
• तर्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: ‘cause to be satisfied’)

• स्वीयशक्तितः: according to one’s own ability
• स्वीयशक्तितः: Karaṇa/Hetu (Means/Reason/करण/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वीय + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वीय-शक्ति), तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; अर्थे ‘from/according to one’s own capacity’

• प्रायाश्चित्तम्: expiation, atonement
• प्रायाश्चित्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• कृतम्: done, performed
• कृतम्: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (प्रायाश्चित्तम्) इत्यस्य विशेषण/विधेय

• येन: by whom; by which
• येन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे ‘by whom/whereby’

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषण; (दानानि) इत्यस्य विशेषण

• दानानि: donations
• दानानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• क्षितौ: on earth
• क्षितौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna according to one’s capacity functions as prāyaścitta and purifies; multiple forms of charity are commended.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: purifying action done without excess pride, aligned to śāstra and one’s adhikāra.

Application: Give regularly within means to prescribed recipients; treat charity as a disciplined purification practice rather than display.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: dāna-prakaraṇa and daśa-dāna listings (contextual); Garuda Purana: śrāddha/dāna sections where prāyaścitta is linked to gifts

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khaga)

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dāna as a practical means of prāyaścitta (expiation), advising that one should give and satisfy prescribed recipients according to one’s capacity, thereby generating purification and merit.

How does this verse relate to after-death rites in the Preta Kanda?

Within the Preta Kanda’s ritual context, it emphasizes that charitable giving supports purification and proper observance of duties connected with preta-related rites, with flexibility based on the giver’s means.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give regularly within your means—food, essentials, service, or monetary support—treating charity as an ethical discipline and a form of self-purification rather than a display of wealth.