Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

ततो येनाम्बुदानानि कृतान्यत्र रसास्तथा / तदा खग तथाह्लादमापदि प्रतिपद्यते

Transliteration

tato yenāmbudānāni kṛtānyatra rasāstathā / tadā khaga tathāhlādamāpadi pratipadyate

Translation

Then, O Bird (Garuda), by whomsoever water-offerings are performed here in this world—and likewise offerings of refreshing liquids—at that time the distressed one attains that very relief and consolation.

Word by Word

• ततः: therefore, then
• ततः: Hetu/Anvaya (Logical connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तदस्)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'therefore/from that')

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अम्बुदानानि: water-gifts (donations of water)
• अम्बुदानानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अम्बोः दानम्)

• कृतानि: done, performed
• कृतानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अम्बुदानानि इति विशेषणम्

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

• रसाः: juices/delicacies
• रसाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'also/likewise')

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• खग: O bird
• खग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Manner (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/accordingly')

• आह्लादम्: delight, joy
• आह्लादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आपदि: in misfortune
• आपदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रतिपद्यते: attains, obtains
• प्रतिपद्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पद् (धातु; प्रति + √पद्)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Jala-dana and rasa-dana (refreshing liquids) ripen as experiential comfort precisely when one faces hardship; karmic reciprocity is time-specific and need-matched.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s fruits manifest as embodied experience in subtle states; compassion (dayā) expressed as dana yields protective punya.

Application: Offer drinking water, hydration, and cooling refreshments—especially to travelers, the poor, and during heat—regularly and with care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/charity context; journey waypoint (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.32 (path comforts from gifts); Garuda Purana 2.4.36 (anna-dana leading to satisfaction); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa motifs: thirst/heat on the path and relief through prior merits (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of water-offering (ambu-dāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that water offerings performed by the living directly become a source of relief and refreshment for the departed/preta when it is undergoing distress.

How does this verse explain support to the soul after death?

It presents a ritual-causal link: acts done ‘here’ (atra)—especially water and liquid offerings—translate into experiential comfort for the distressed being on its post-death path.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform water charity or prescribed water-offerings for ancestors/departed persons with sincerity, and cultivate compassion through life by giving essentials that relieve suffering.