Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

पापानि भस्मसात्कृत्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते / अमृतं तु गवां क्षीरं यतः पतगसत्तम्

Transliteration

pāpāni bhasmasātkṛtvā svargaloke mahīyate / amṛtaṃ tu gavāṃ kṣīraṃ yataḥ patagasattam

Translation

Having reduced sins to ashes, one is honored in the heavenly world. For the milk of cows is verily like nectar (amṛta), O best of birds.

Word by Word

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neut., Acc., Pl.)

• भस्मसात्: to ashes; into ash
• भस्मसात्: Karma-pravacaniya/Upapada (Resultative/उपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhasmasāt (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय, परिणाम/अवस्थावाचक (indeclinable: ‘to ashes’, ‘into ash-state’)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• स्वर्गलोके: in heaven-world
• स्वर्गलोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga-loka (प्रातिपदिक: svarga + loka)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वर्गस्य लोकः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masc., Loc., Sg.)

• महीयते: is honored; is glorified
• महीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mah (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (Present, 3rd, Sg., Ātmanepada: ‘is honored/glorified’)

• अमृतम्: nectar; ambrosia
• अमृतम्: Samanaadhikarana (Predicate noun/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neut., Nom/Acc, Sg.)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (गो-शब्दः), षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Gen., Pl.)

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: Samanaadhikarana (Predicate noun/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neut., Nom/Acc, Sg.)

• यतः: because; from which
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatas (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-निपात)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ (indeclinable: ‘because/from which’)

• पतगसत्तम: O best of birds
• पतगसत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pataga-sattama (प्रातिपदिक: pataga + sattama)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पतगानां सत्तमः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Masc., Voc., Sg.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pāpa can be ‘burned’ (bhāsma-sāt) through meritorious acts; resulting puṇya yields honor in Svarga; cow’s milk is praised as amṛta-like, implying sanctity of go-sevā/go-dāna.

Vedantic Theme: Karmaphala doctrine: purification and ascent through puṇya; also hints at sattva-enhancing purity associated with go-dravya.

Application: Cultivate purifying, sattvic conduct—charity, service, restraint; honor life-sustaining gifts and avoid harm to cows and dependents.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections praising go-dāna and puṇya leading to svarga (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the importance of cow-related offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates cow’s milk as “amṛta-like,” indicating it as a highly purifying, merit-producing substance whose righteous use (especially in sacred context) supports pāpa-kṣaya and auspicious post-death outcomes.

How does this verse explain the link between sin-destruction and the soul’s destiny?

It states that when sins are ‘burned to ashes’ (complete purification), the being is honored in Svarga—showing a direct karmic connection between purification of pāpa and elevated post-mortem experience.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate purity through ethical living and sattvic conduct, and treat sacred resources (like milk) with reverence—using them in worship/charity responsibly—aiming at inner purification rather than mere display.