Shloka 184

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

Devanagari script

विप्राणां दापयेद्दानं सर्वविघ्नविनाशनम् / भोजनोपानहौच्छत्त्रं हेममुद्रा च वाससी

Transliteration

viprāṇāṃ dāpayeddānaṃ sarvavighnavināśanam / bhojanopānahaucchattraṃ hemamudrā ca vāsasī

Translation

One should have gifts given to the brāhmaṇas—gifts that destroy all obstacles: food, footwear, an umbrella, a gold seal-ring (mudrā), and garments.

Word by Word

• viprāṇām: of/for the Brahmins
• viprāṇām: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• dāpayet: should cause (someone) to give
• dāpayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु) + ṇic (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative) = ‘cause to give’

• dānam: a gift/donation
• dānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sarvavighnavināśanam: destroying all obstacles
• sarvavighnavināśanam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + vighna + vināśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-सम्बन्धार्थ: सर्वेषां विघ्नानां विनाशनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; दानम् इति विशेषण

• bhojanopānahaucchattram: food, footwear, and umbrella (as gifts)
• bhojanopānahaucchattram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojana + upānaha + ucchattra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (इतरेतर: भोजनम्, उपानहौ, उच्छत्त्रम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्व as a collective)

• hemamudrā: a gold coin/seal
• hemamudrā: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hema + mudrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय: हेमस्य/हेममयी मुद्रा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (सूच्यते/गण्यते)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय-bodhaka)

• vāsasī: two garments/cloths
• vāsasī: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (dual)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As an adjunct within funeral/śrāddha sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna to qualified recipients, especially in death-rites context, functions as both social dharma and spiritual remedy removing obstacles.

Vedantic Theme: Purification through selfless giving; karma-yoga orientation—offering without clinging to results, aligned with dharma.

Application: Arrange practical gifts—food, footwear, umbrella, gold seal-ring, garments—to brāhmaṇas as part of the rite sequence to avert impediments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/ritual assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dāna lists in śrāddha/antyeṣṭi chapters (food, clothing, gold); Garuda Purana: vighna-śānti measures surrounding funeral rites

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins (Vipras)

FAQs

What is the importance of dana (charity) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse states that giving prescribed gifts to vipras is “sarva-vighna-vināśanam”—a means to remove impediments, supporting the smooth completion of post-death rites and the welfare of the departed.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

While not describing the journey directly, it teaches a practical support-measure: charitable gifts offered in the ritual context are presented as removing obstacles that could hinder the departed’s post-death transition described elsewhere in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charity with sincerity—especially essentials like food and clothing—ideally in connection with remembrance rites, cultivating compassion and dharmic responsibility while honoring tradition.