Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

आलयस्तत्र रौद्रे हि दह्यते येन मानवः / छत्रदानेन सुच्छाया जायते पथि तुष्टिदा

Transliteration

ālayastatra raudre hi dahyate yena mānavaḥ / chatradānena succhāyā jāyate pathi tuṣṭidā

Translation

In that fierce, sun-scorched realm, a person is burned by blazing heat; but by the gift of an umbrella, a cool and pleasing shade arises on the journey, bringing comfort.

Word by Word

• आलयः: dwelling; abode
• आलयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masc., Nom., Sg.)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• रौद्रे: in the fierce (heat/realm)
• रौद्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Loc., Sg.; ‘in the fierce [condition/place]’)

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: for/indeed)

• दह्यते: is burned
• दह्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dah (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Present, 3rd, Sg., Passive: ‘is burned’)

• येन: by which; whereby
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, तृतीया, एकवचन (Instr., Sg.)

• मानवः: a man; human
• मानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masc., Nom., Sg.)

• छत्रदानेन: by the gift of an umbrella
• छत्रदानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chatra-dāna (प्रातिपदिक: chatra + dāna)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (छत्रस्य दानम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Neut., Instr., Sg.)

• सुच्छाया: good shade
• सुच्छाया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-chāyā (प्रातिपदिक: su + chāyā)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सुन्दर-छाया); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Fem., Nom., Sg.)

• जायते: arises; is produced
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (Present, 3rd, Sg., Ātmanepada)

• पथि: on the road
• पथि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masc., Loc., Sg.)

• तुष्टिदा: giving satisfaction
• तुष्टिदा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tuṣṭi-dā (प्रातिपदिक: tuṣṭi + dā)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तुष्टिं ददाति इति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Fem., Nom., Sg.), सुच्छायाया विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific dāna yields specific protective phala: gifting an umbrella produces shade and comfort during the soul’s arduous journey.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s precise correspondence (yathā-karman) shaping experiential realities; compassion concretized as future protection.

Application: Give practical aids (shade, shelter, protection) to travelers and the vulnerable; small utilities can have outsized impact.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: path/transition-realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana journey-to-Yama descriptions where gifts become aids (e.g., footwear/umbrella/water) (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of chatra-dāna (donating an umbrella) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that chatra-dāna produces “su-chāyā” (cool, auspicious shade) on the harsh post-death journey, giving the traveler comfort and satisfaction.

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

It portrays the route as a fierce, heat-tormenting region where the being feels burning distress, and explains that specific meritorious gifts can manifest as real relief along that path.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice dāna with compassion—donate umbrellas or shade-giving items (especially in hot seasons) and dedicate the merit in śrāddha/ancestral rites, cultivating charity as a dharmic habit.