Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

भोजनासनदानेन सुखं मार्गे भुनक्ति वै / प्रदेशे निर्जले दाता सुखी स्याद्वै कमण्डलोः

Transliteration

bhojanāsanadānena sukhaṃ mārge bhunakti vai / pradeśe nirjale dātā sukhī syādvai kamaṇḍaloḥ

Translation

By the gift of food and a seat, one truly enjoys comfort along the journey. And in a waterless region, the giver becomes happy indeed through the merit of donating a kamaṇḍalu, a sacred water-pot.

Word by Word

• भोजनासनदानेन: by the gift of food and seat
• भोजनासनदानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन + आसन + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण-कारक (instrumental)

• सुखम्: happiness, comfort
• सुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म-कारक

• मार्गे: on the road, on the way
• मार्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण-कारक

• भुनक्ति: enjoys, experiences
• भुनक्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (Nipata)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphatic)

• प्रदेशे: in a region/place
• प्रदेशे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण-कारक

• निर्जले: waterless, without water
• निर्जले: Adhikarana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण (प्रदेशे)

• दाता: the giver, donor
• दाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ-कारक

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (दाता)

• स्यात्: would be, may become
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (Nipata)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphatic)

• कमण्डलोः: of a water-pot (kamaṇḍalu)
• कमण्डलोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anna-āsana-jala-dāna as practical compassion that becomes merit and future comfort.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as ethical causality; sattvika-dāna purifies intention and supports dharmic order.

Application: Support travelers and the vulnerable: food, seating/rest, and potable water (or water vessels) in heat/scarcity; institutionalize via water stations, shelters, community kitchens.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: desert/routeway

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: dāna-phala sections listing gifts (anna, vastra, jala, shayya) as protections on the post-mortem path

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of donating food and a seat in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the merit of giving food and a place to sit translates into comfort experienced “on the path,” implying relief during difficult passages associated with the post-death journey.

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

It frames the post-death passage as a demanding “journey” where specific charities (food, rest, and especially water provisions) become subtle supports, turning hardship into ease through earned merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Offer food, seating/rest, and drinking water to travelers, guests, and the needy—especially in hot or water-scarce places—dedicating the act as dharmic charity and remembrance for the departed.