Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

घृतपात्रप्रदाने रुद्रलोके वसेन्नरः / सर्वोपस्करसंयुक्तां शय्यां दत्त्वा द्विजातये

Transliteration

ghṛtapātrapradāne rudraloke vasennaraḥ / sarvopaskarasaṃyuktāṃ śayyāṃ dattvā dvijātaye

Translation

By donating a vessel of ghee (ghṛta), a man dwells in Rudra’s realm; and by giving a bed furnished with all necessary accessories to a twice-born (brāhmaṇa), he attains the corresponding merit.

Word by Word

• घृतपात्रप्रदाने: in/at the act of giving a ghee-vessel
• घृतपात्रप्रदाने: Adhikarana (Location/Occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत + पात्र + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण/विषय (locative of occasion)

• रुद्रलोके: in Rudra's world
• रुद्रलोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण-कारक

• वसेत्: would dwell
• वसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ-कारक

• सर्वोपस्करसंयुक्ताम्: furnished with all accessories
• सर्वोपस्करसंयुक्ताम्: Karma (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + उपस्कर + संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (शय्याम्)

• शय्याम्: a bed
• शय्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म-कारक

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Gerund)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• द्विजातये: to a twice-born (brāhmaṇa etc.)
• द्विजातये: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि + जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान-कारक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ghṛtapātra-dāna yields residence in Rudraloka; śayyā-dāna with full accessories to a dvija yields corresponding merit (comfort/support mirrored in result).

Vedantic Theme: Karmic correspondence (yathā-dāna tathā-phala); heavenly rewards are finite and within saṃsāra.

Application: Support nourishment and rest: donate ghee/food fats for ritual/food needs; provide bedding kits (bed, sheets, blankets, pillow, mosquito net) to students, monks, shelters, and the poor.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dāna-phala catalogues linking specific items to specific lokas and comforts

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Dvija (Brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of ghee-vessel donation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that donating a vessel filled with ghee generates specific post-death merit, described as residence in Rudra’s realm (Rudraloka), indicating a favorable spiritual destination tied to dharmic charity.

How does this verse explain the soul’s path after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, the Garuda Purana links particular dānas (charitable gifts) performed by the living to concrete afterlife outcomes for the departed or the donor, presenting charity as a dharmic support shaping one’s post-mortem state and destination.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional charity: offer essentials (food items like ghee, and practical comforts) to worthy recipients—especially learned and ethical brāhmaṇas or legitimate religious service contexts—while keeping the focus on compassion, duty, and purity of intent.