Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

तावतो राजितांल्लोकानाप्नुवन्ति हि पुष्कलान् / चतुर्भिस्तुरगैर्युक्तं सर्वोपकरणैर्युतम्

Transliteration

tāvato rājitāṃllokānāpnuvanti hi puṣkalān / caturbhisturagairyuktaṃ sarvopakaraṇairyutam

Translation

For that long, indeed, they attain many splendid, radiant worlds; and they obtain a chariot yoked with four horses, furnished with every requisite equipment.

Word by Word

• तावतः: so many
• तावतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘लोकान्’ इति विशेषणम् (तावतो लोकान् = तावद्-परिमाणान्)

• राजितान्: shining, splendid
• राजितान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √राज् (धातु) → राजित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• लोकान्: worlds
• लोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आप्नुवन्ति: attain
• आप्नुवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय-बोधक (indeed)

• पुष्कलान्: abundant, great
• पुष्कलान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• चतुर्भिः: with four
• चतुर्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘तुरगैः’ इति विशेषणम्

• तुरगैः: with horses
• तुरगैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• युक्तम्: yoked, equipped
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सर्वोपकरणैः: with all implements
• सर्वोपकरणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + उपकरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वाणि उपकरणानि)

• युतम्: joined with, furnished with
• युतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √यु (धातु) → युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Merit yields not only duration but qualitative enjoyments—access to radiant worlds and divine vehicles furnished with all requisites.

Vedantic Theme: Enjoyments and worlds are karmically produced and therefore impermanent; they illustrate the mechanics of saṃsāra rather than final freedom.

Application: Use prosperity and ‘vehicles’ (means, mobility, status) as instruments for dharma; cultivate detachment by remembering their karmic contingency.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: celestial worlds

Cross References

Related Themes: Continuation of the aśva-dāna phala sequence in Garuda Purana 2.4.28–31; Garuda Purana: descriptions of svarga-vimānas/rathas as punya rewards

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of attaining radiant lokas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the post-death फल (result) of merit: the soul is said to reach abundant, luminous realms, symbolizing elevated states gained through पुण्य and dharmic conduct.

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

Within the Preta Kanda’s after-death framework, it indicates that the departed can experience higher realms proportional to their accrued merit, depicted through imagery of “shining worlds” and a well-equipped chariot.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live in a way that increases पुण्य—truthfulness, charity, restraint, and reverence for dharma—since the text links ethical merit with uplifted post-death outcomes.