Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

नानाप्सरोभिराकीर्णं विमानमधिरोहति / षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि क्रीडित्वा शक्रमन्दिरे

Transliteration

nānāpsarobhirākīrṇaṃ vimānamadhirohati / ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi krīḍitvā śakramandire

Translation

He ascends a celestial vimāna filled with many apsarās, and, having enjoyed himself in Śakra’s (Indra’s) divine abode, sports there for sixty thousand years.

Word by Word

• नानाप्सरोभिः: by various apsarases
• नानाप्सरोभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण-कारक

• आकीर्णम्: filled, crowded
• आकीर्णम्: Karma (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (विमानम्)

• विमानम्: celestial chariot/aircraft
• विमानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म-कारक

• अधिरोहति: mounts, ascends
• अधिरोहति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि: sixty thousand years
• षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि: Kala-adhikarana (Duration/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि + वर्ष + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; कालाधिकरणे द्वितीया (accusative of duration)

• क्रीडित्वा: having sported/enjoyed
• क्रीडित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Gerund)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having played/enjoyed)

• शक्रमन्दिरे: in Indra's palace
• शक्रमन्दिरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र + मन्दिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण-कारक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Punya results in ascent to a vimāna and prolonged enjoyment in Indra’s heaven (quantified as sixty thousand years).

Vedantic Theme: Svarga is a karmic, impermanent attainment; enjoyment is finite and does not equal mokṣa.

Application: Let promised rewards motivate virtue, but cultivate detachment and higher aim beyond pleasure; use prosperity ethically rather than as an end.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial palace

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: svarga descriptions following dāna-phala; vimāna and apsarā motifs recur in merit narratives

Characters & Entities

• Apsaras
• Shakra (Indra)
• Vimana

FAQs

What is the importance of enjoying in Śakra’s abode (Indra-loka) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents svarga (Indra’s realm) as a karmic reward: meritorious actions can yield refined pleasures and honor, symbolized by a vimāna and apsarās, but it remains a time-bound result.

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

In the Preta Kanda narrative, the soul’s post-death journey includes destinations shaped by karma; here, the meritorious attain a celestial ascent and temporary residence in Indra’s world for a specified duration.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat pleasure and success as results of past causes and keep them ethical and disciplined; prioritize dharma and lasting inner purification over chasing temporary rewards.