Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

तस्माद्ददाति यो धेनुममृतत्वं स गच्छति / दानान्यष्टौ तु दत्त्वा वै गन्धर्वनिलये वसेत्

Transliteration

tasmāddadāti yo dhenumamṛtatvaṃ sa gacchati / dānānyaṣṭau tu dattvā vai gandharvanilaye vaset

Translation

Therefore, whoever gives a cow in charity attains immortality. And having indeed given the eight kinds of gifts, one dwells in the abode of the Gandharvas.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Abl., Sg.)

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (Present, 3rd, Sg.)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masc., Nom., Sg.)

• धेनुम्: a cow
• धेनुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Fem., Acc., Sg.)

• अमृतत्वम्: immortality
• अमृतत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta-tva (प्रातिपदिक: amṛta + tva)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/उपपद-भाव (अमृतस्य भावः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neut., Acc., Sg.)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masc., Nom., Sg.)

• गच्छति: goes; attains
• गच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (Present, 3rd, Sg.)

• दानानि: gifts; donations
• दानानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neut., Acc., Pl.)

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Masc., Nom/Acc, Pl.; numeral)

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

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having given)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• गन्धर्वनिलये: in the abode of Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वनिलये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva-nilaya (प्रातिपदिक: gandharva + nilaya)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गन्धर्वाणां निलयः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Masc., Loc., Sg.)

• वसेत्: should dwell; may live
• वसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (लिङ्-लकार), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (Optative, 3rd, Sg.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Go-dāna is extolled as supremely meritorious, granting ‘amṛtatva’ (interpretable as long celestial life/undecaying status); completing ‘eight gifts’ yields residence among Gandharvas.

Vedantic Theme: Merit-based ascent (svarga/gandharva-loka) as karmic fruit; also a dharmic economy where generosity transforms destiny.

Application: Practice systematic giving: prioritize life-supporting gifts (food, shelter, care), and make charity consistent rather than occasional.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: loka/abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana lists of dānas (aṣṭa-dāna/mahā-dāna) and their phalas (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas

FAQs

What is the importance of go-dāna (cow donation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents go-dāna as a supremely meritorious gift, said to lead to “amṛtatva” (deathless blessedness), highlighting charity as a key support for auspicious post-death outcomes.

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

It links specific meritorious actions (dāna) to specific post-death destinations: giving a cow is praised as leading to deathlessness, and completing eight forms of giving is associated with residence in Gandharva-loka—showing karma-to-realm mapping.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional charity—supporting sustenance and welfare (symbolized by the cow)—and cultivate a habit of multiple forms of giving, aligning daily life with dharma and compassionate responsibility.