Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

पान्थो द्वारि भवेत्तेन प्रीता स्याद्वास्तुदेवता / चत्वरे खेचरस्तेन तुष्येद्भृतादिदेवता

Transliteration

pāntho dvāri bhavettena prītā syādvāstudevatā / catvare khecarastena tuṣyedbhṛtādidevatā

Translation

By doing so, a traveller (guest) will come to one’s doorway, and the Vāstu-devatā, the presiding deity of the dwelling, becomes pleased. Likewise, at the crossroads the sky-moving beings are satisfied, and the deities beginning with Bhṛta are gratified.

Word by Word

पान्थःa traveler; wayfarer

द्वारिat the door

भवेत्would be; should be

तेनby that; thereby

प्रीताpleased

स्यात्would be

वास्तुदेवताthe Vāstu-deity (deity of the dwelling)

चत्वरेat the square/crossroads

खेचरःa sky-goer (celestial being)

तेनby that; thereby

तुष्येत्would be pleased

भृतादिदेवताthe deity of Bhṛta and others (a class of deities)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: When performing the prescribed liminal rites connected with śrāddha/antyeṣṭi contexts at doorway and crossroads.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual acts harmonize household space and public liminal zones by satisfying presiding deities; dharma includes unseen ecology of beings and guardians.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of visible action and subtle order; karma as alignment with cosmic administration (devatā-tarpaṇa).

Application: Perform the prescribed act (from prior context) at the doorway and crossroads to please Vāstu-devatā and khecara beings, ensuring auspiciousness and unobstructed household functioning.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: threshold and public junction

Cross References

Related Themes: 2.4.48 on applying the same vidhi at doorway and crossroads; 2.4.49 on death-place and Bhūmi-devatā; 2.4.51 on the departed’s changing designations and directional blessing

Characters & Entities

Vastu-devata

Khecaras

Bhṛtādi-devatās

FAQs

What is the importance of pleasing Vāstu-devatā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links proper ritual conduct with the satisfaction of Vāstu-devatā, implying that offerings and dharmic hospitality help keep the dwelling spiritually auspicious and supportive for rites connected with the departed.

How does this verse relate to the journey after death described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, rites are taught as supports for the preta and for removing obstacles; pleasing local and directional beings (at doorways and crossroads) is presented as a way to secure smooth passage and reduce hindrances during transitional after-death states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain dharmic hospitality and mindful offerings during śrāddha/ancestral rites—keep the home orderly and sacred, and perform acts of giving in appropriate places—so that the environment and associated deities are regarded as supportive rather than obstructive.