Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

असिपत्रवनं धारमतिक्रामति वै सुखम् / अश्वारूढश्च व्रजति ददते यद्युपानहौ

Transliteration

asipatravanaṃ dhāramatikrāmati vai sukham / aśvārūḍhaśca vrajati dadate yadyupānahau

Translation

He crosses the razor‑edged Asipatravana thicket with ease, and he proceeds mounted on a horse, if footwear has been given as a gift.

Word by Word

• असिपत्रवनम्: the forest of sword-leaves
• असिपत्रवनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asi-patra-vana (प्रातिपदिक: asi + patra + vana)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (असि-पत्राणि यस्मिन् वनम्/असिपत्राणां वनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neut., Acc., Sg.)

• धारम्: the sharp edge; blade-line
• धारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Fem., Acc., Sg.)

• अतिक्रामति: crosses; passes beyond
• अतिक्रामति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati√kram (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (Present, 3rd, Sg.)

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

• सुखम्: easily; pleasantly
• सुखम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणवत् (used adverbially), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Acc. used as adverb)

• अश्वारूढः: mounted on a horse
• अश्वारूढः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśva-ārūḍha (प्रातिपदिक: aśva + ārūḍha)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अश्वम् आरूढः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masc., Nom., Sg.)

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

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

• ददते: gives (for oneself/benefit)
• ददते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (Present, 3rd, Sg., Ātmanepada)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

• उपानहौ: a pair of sandals/shoes
• उपानहौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upānah (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Fem., Acc., Dual)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Concrete karmic reciprocity: gifting footwear (upānah) yields protection and ease on the post-mortem path, even through Asipatravana; merit can provide ‘mount’ and mobility.

Vedantic Theme: Embodied consequences of actions; compassionate provision in life becomes existential support after death.

Application: Give what enables safe movement—shoes, mobility aids, transport support—especially to those walking in harsh conditions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest (vana)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa descriptions of Asipatravana and dāna-based aids on Yama-mārga (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta
• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of donating footwear (upānah-dāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that gifting footwear becomes an after-death aid: it enables the departing being to cross the dangerous Asipatravana path comfortably and to travel swiftly, symbolized as riding a horse.

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

It portrays the preta’s journey as involving perilous regions like Asipatravana (a cutting, razor-like forest). Merit from specific dānas performed in life (or dedicated rites) provides practical relief and safer passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice compassionate giving—especially essentials like footwear to those in need—and pair charity with ethical living; the text frames such dāna as merit that reduces hardship on the post-death journey.