Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

यमदूता महारौद्राः करालाः कृष्णपिङ्गलाः / न पीडयन्ति दाक्षिण्याद्वस्त्राभरणदानतः

Transliteration

yamadūtā mahāraudrāḥ karālāḥ kṛṣṇapiṅgalāḥ / na pīḍayanti dākṣiṇyādvastrābharaṇadānataḥ

Translation

Yama’s messengers—fierce, terrifying, and dark-hued—do not torment the departed, because of kindness shown through the gifting of garments and ornaments.

Word by Word

• यमदूताः: Yama's messengers
• यमदूताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम + दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; कर्तृ-कारक

• महारौद्राः: very fierce
• महारौद्राः: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण (यमदूताः)

• करालाः: terrible, frightful
• करालाः: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण (यमदूताः)

• कृष्णपिङ्गलाः: dark-brown/blackish and tawny
• कृष्णपिङ्गलाः: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण + पिङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण (यमदूताः)

• न: not
• न: Negation (Nipata)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• पीडयन्ति: torment, afflict
• पीडयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पीड् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दाक्षिण्यात्: because of generosity
• दाक्षिण्यात्: Apadana/Hetu (Cause/अपादान-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाक्षिण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ/अपादान (ablative of cause)

• वस्त्राभरणदानतः: due to the giving of clothes and ornaments
• वस्त्राभरणदानतः: Apadana/Hetu (Cause/अपादान-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र + आभरण + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ/अपादान (ablative of cause)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vastra-ābharaṇa-dāna and kindness (dākṣiṇya) mitigate suffering inflicted by Yama’s messengers.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala as precise moral recompense; compassionate giving refines saṃskāras and reduces fear at death.

Application: Give clothing and essentials (including dignified attire) to those in need; cultivate kindness as a habit so fear and remorse lessen at life’s end.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: yamaloka threshold / road of the departed

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of Yama-dūtas and the protective power of specific dānas (vastra, anna, jala)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamadutas

FAQs

What is the importance of vastra-dāna (donating clothes) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that gifting garments—done with compassionate intent—acts as a protective merit, preventing the Yamadūtas from tormenting the departed.

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

It implies that the soul’s post-death experience is shaped by earned merit: charitable acts (like giving clothes and ornaments) can lessen fear and harassment on the way to Yama’s realm.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice compassionate giving—especially essentials like clothing—and perform charity with sincere intent, cultivating a life that reduces harm and supports others.