Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

भवत्यत्र खगश्रेष्ठ फलगौखलाघवम् / श्रद्धाश्रद्धाविभेदेन दानगौरवलाघवात्

Transliteration

bhavatyatra khagaśreṣṭha phalagaukhalāghavam / śraddhāśraddhāvibhedena dānagauravalāghavāt

Translation

Here, O best of birds (Garuda), the fruit becomes weighty or light; due to the difference between faith and lack of faith, and due to the donation’s being substantial or meagre.

Word by Word

• भवति: arises/occurs
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• खगश्रेष्ठ: O best of birds
• खगश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (श्रेष्ठः खगः)

• फल: fruit
• फल: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-निर्देश (समासाङ्ग)

• गौखलाघवम्: lightness (smallness) of a cow-stall/pen
• गौखलाघवम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौखल + लाघव (प्रातिपदिक; गौखल = गो + खल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (गौखलस्य लाघवम्)

• श्रद्धा: faith
• श्रद्धा: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-निर्देश (समासाङ्ग)

• अश्रद्धा: lack of faith
• अश्रद्धा: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-निर्देश (समासाङ्ग)

• विभेदेन: by the distinction (between)
• विभेदेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; पूर्वपद-द्वन्द्वसमाहारः—श्रद्धा-अश्रद्धा (समासाङ्ग)

• दानगौरवलाघवात्: from the heaviness or lightness of the gift
• दानगौरवलाघवात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान + गौरव + लाघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (गौरव-लाघवयोः समाहारः) तथा तत्पुरुष-पूर्वपद (दानस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma-phala varies by inner faith (śraddhā/āśraddhā) and by the substantiality of the gift; intention and scale modulate results.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-bhāva (inner disposition) conditions karmic potency; sattvic faith refines action’s fruit though still within vyāvahārika causality.

Application: Cultivate sincerity and reverence in giving; avoid performative charity; give proportionately and meaningfully rather than tokenistically.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.35-36 (examples: water/food gifts yielding relief/satiation); Garuda Purana discussions where śraddhā is emphasized in śrāddha and dana contexts (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of śraddhā (faith) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse states that the “weight” of the spiritual result depends on śraddhā versus aśraddhā—faithful performance makes the fruit substantial, while faithless performance makes it light.

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

In the Preta Kanda framework, the departed is supported by the fruits of rites and gifts; this verse clarifies that those fruits vary in strength according to intention (śraddhā) and the seriousness of the dāna.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When doing charity or ancestral rites, prioritize sincerity and respectful intent, and give within your capacity with steadiness—both the attitude and the quality of giving shape the karmic outcome.