Shloka 133

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

Devanagari script

सुवर्णभारनिष्पन्नं नागं कृत्वा तथैव गाम् / विप्राय दत्त्वा विधिवत्पितुरानृण्यमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

suvarṇabhāraniṣpannaṃ nāgaṃ kṛtvā tathaiva gām / viprāya dattvā vidhivatpiturānṛṇyamāpnuyāt

Translation

Having fashioned a serpent of gold of the prescribed weight—and likewise donating a cow—if one gives these properly to a brāhmaṇa, one attains release from the debt owed to one’s father (ancestral obligation).

Word by Word

• सुवर्णभारनिष्पन्नम्: made of a weight of gold
• सुवर्णभारनिष्पन्नम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण + भार + निष्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle from √पद्/√पन् with नि-; ‘produced/formed’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• नागम्: a serpent (image)
• नागम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Emphatic particle)

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विप्राय: to a Brahmin
• विप्राय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative, 4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed rite
• विधिवत्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb: ‘according to rule/rite’)

• पितुः: of (one's) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• आनृण्यम्: freedom from debt (discharge of obligation)
• आनृण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनृण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आप्नुयात्: would obtain; may attain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed as part of special śrāddha/śānti sequence for snakebite death or serpent-affliction.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-ṛṇa is discharged through prescribed dāna: a gold serpent (symbolic counter to snake-caused death) and a cow-gift, given ‘vidhivat’ to a qualified brāhmaṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Karma is modulated by dharmic acts (dāna) performed with right procedure and recipient; symbolic substitution channels merit toward the departed lineage.

Application: If a father/ancestor’s line is burdened by snake-related death/affliction, perform the specified dāna—gold serpent and cow—to a brāhmaṇa with proper rites and intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.132 (special rule for snakebite death); Garuda Purana 2.4.134 (sarpabali)

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Brāhmaṇa (Vipra)
• Nāga (serpent emblem)

FAQs

What is the importance of pitṛ-ṛṇa (ancestral debt) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that ancestral obligation is ritually and ethically discharged through prescribed gifts (dāna) made correctly—here, a gold serpent figure and a cow—offered to a qualified brāhmaṇa.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and śrāddha?

In the Preta Kanda context, such donations support śrāddha-related duties and are presented as means to remove remaining obligations toward the departed lineage, aiding the family’s dharmic completeness after death rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with sincerity and correctness, support learned and ethical custodians of tradition, and express responsibility toward family lineage through lawful charity and disciplined observance rather than neglect.