Shloka 123

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

Devanagari script

वस्त्रोपानहसंयुक्तं दद्यादष्टविधं पदम् / द्पयेत्सर्वपापेभ्यो न कुर्यात्पङ्क्तिवञ्चनम्

Transliteration

vastropānahasaṃyuktaṃ dadyādaṣṭavidhaṃ padam / dpayetsarvapāpebhyo na kuryātpaṅktivañcanam

Translation

One should give the “eightfold gift” (aṣṭavidha pada) together with clothing and footwear. Such giving frees one from all sins; therefore one should not deceive or discriminate in the ritual feeding line (paṅkti).

Word by Word

• वस्त्रोपानहसंयुक्तम्: accompanied with cloth and footwear
• वस्त्रोपानहसंयुक्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस्त्र + उपानह् + संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘संयुक्त’ = joined/combined; तत्पुरुषः (वस्त्रेण उपानह्या च संयुक्तम्)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अष्टविधम्: eightfold, of eight kinds
• अष्टविधम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (अष्ट प्रकाराः यस्य)

• पदम्: step/measure; (here) item/portion (padam)
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• द्पयेत्: should cause to give (reading likely dāpayet)
• द्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; पाठे ‘द्पयेत्’ इति—सम्भाव्यं ‘दापयेत्’ (cause to give)

• सर्वपापेभ्यः: from all sins
• सर्वपापेभ्यः: Apadana (Ablative/source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वाणि पापानि)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पङ्क्तिवञ्चनम्: deceiving the line/row (of recipients)
• पङ्क्तिवञ्चनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्क्ति + वञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पङ्क्तेः वञ्चनम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During brāhmaṇa-bhojana segment of śrāddha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna (including the ‘eightfold gift’) with clothing and footwear purifies; paṅkti-vañcana (deception/discrimination in ritual feeding) destroys merit.

Vedantic Theme: Ethical karma: intention and truthfulness (satya) condition the fruit of ritual action; dharma is inner and outer correctness.

Application: Give prescribed gifts with sincerity; feed invitees without manipulation, favoritism, or exclusion; keep accounts and arrangements transparent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4: warnings against defects (doṣa) in śrāddha and paṅkti-bhojana

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) with clothing and footwear in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats such dāna as a strong dharmic support for the donor (and in śrāddha contexts, for the departed), stating it helps remove sins and strengthens the merit of the rite.

What does paṅkti-vañcana mean in the context of śrāddha?

Paṅkti-vañcana is cheating in the ritual feeding arrangement—manipulating the line of invitees, showing improper discrimination, or otherwise acting deceptively in the śrāddha meal, which undermines the rite’s purity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give essential support-items (like clothes/footwear) sincerely and conduct religious or charitable meals without favoritism or deceit—keeping the act transparent, respectful, and dharmic.