Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

लवणं च तदा देयं द्वारस्योद्वाटनं दिवः / यानिकानि च दानानि स्वयं दत्तानि मानवैः

Transliteration

lavaṇaṃ ca tadā deyaṃ dvārasyodvāṭanaṃ divaḥ / yānikāni ca dānāni svayaṃ dattāni mānavaiḥ

Translation

At that time, salt should indeed be given; it becomes like an opening of the gate of heaven. And whatever gifts humans have given by their own hand—those donations too become beneficial.

Word by Word

• लवणम्: salt
• लवणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• तदा: then, at that time
• तदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• देयम्: should be given
• देयम्: Kriya (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: ‘to be given’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विधेय

• द्वारस्य: of the door/gate
• द्वारस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• उद्वाटनम्: opening, unbolting
• उद्वाटनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद् + वट् (धातु)
• Form: ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-नाम (action noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• दिवः: of heaven; of the day/sky
• दिवः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्यौः), षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• यानिकानि: whatever (those which)
• यानिकानि: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-विशेषण (दानानि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

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

• स्वयम्: personally, oneself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘oneself’

• दत्तानि: given
• दत्तानि: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; (दानानि) इत्यस्य विशेषण

• मानवैः: by humans
• मानवैः: Karta (Agent in passive sense/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Timely lavaṇa-dāna is highly efficacious; personally offered gifts (svayaṃ-datta) accrue strong merit and become beneficial.

Vedantic Theme: Intentionality (saṅkalpa) and agency in karma: direct, unmediated giving strengthens puṇya; symbolic ‘svarga-dvāra’ expresses karmic ascent.

Application: In critical moments (especially near death), perform simple, direct charity; prioritize personally delivered giving and sincerity over complexity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: threshold/gate

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: continuation of lavaṇa-dāna praise and its fruits (contextual); Garuda Purana: svarga/naraka result mapping to specific acts (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Diva (Svarga/Heaven)

FAQs

What is the importance of donating salt in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that giving salt at the prescribed time functions like “opening the gate of heaven,” meaning it is regarded as a powerful, merit-producing dāna that supports auspicious passage and wellbeing in the afterlife context.

How does this verse connect charity (dāna) with the soul’s journey after death?

It links specific gifts—especially salt—and all sincerely self-offered donations to spiritual benefit, implying that dāna becomes supportive merit (puṇya) that assists the departed toward higher states symbolized here as Svarga.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Practice intentional charity—particularly simple, essential items like food staples—given personally and ethically, and when performing śrāddha/funeral-related observances, include prescribed dānas with sincerity rather than mere formality.