Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

नदीं वैतरणीं तर्तुं दद्याद्वैतरणीं च गाम् / कृष्णस्तनी सकृष्णाङ्गी सा वै वैतरणी स्मृता

Transliteration

nadīṃ vaitaraṇīṃ tartuṃ dadyādvaitaraṇīṃ ca gām / kṛṣṇastanī sakṛṣṇāṅgī sā vai vaitaraṇī smṛtā

Translation

To cross the river Vaitaraṇī, one should give the “Vaitaraṇī cow” in donation. That cow—black-breasted and black-limbed—is indeed known as the Vaitaraṇī (cow).

Word by Word

• नदीम्: the river
• नदीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वैतरणीम्: Vaitaraṇī (river)
• वैतरणीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैतरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तर्तुम्: to cross
• तर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थ (to cross)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वैतरणीम्: a Vaitaraṇī (so-called)
• वैतरणीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैतरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गाम् इति विशेषणम् (a ‘Vaitaraṇī’ cow)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृष्णस्तनी: black-teated
• कृष्णस्तनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (कृष्णाः स्तनाः यस्याः)

• सकृष्णाङ्गी: having black limbs
• सकृष्णाङ्गी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + ई (स्त्रीप्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (कृष्णानि अङ्गानि यस्याः सा)

• सा: she/that (cow)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed)

• वैतरणी: Vaitaraṇī
• वैतरणी: Pratipadya (Predicate nominal/प्रत्ययार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैतरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्मृता: is called/considered
• स्मृता: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (is called/considered)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific dāna (Vaitaraṇī cow) functions as a karmic aid for crossing the afterlife river; ritual action has post-mortem efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s operative continuity beyond death; upāya (means) within dharma to lessen suffering; faith-linked action (śraddhā) as transformative.

Application: Perform meaningful, targeted charity tied to life transitions (end-of-life planning, legacy giving); support animal welfare/cow-care where culturally appropriate; document ethical bequests.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: river/threshold

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Preta-kalpa: Vaitaraṇī river crossing and go-dāna prescriptions; Garuda Purana: go-dāna mahātmyas and specific cows named for rites

Characters & Entities

• Vaitaraṇī

FAQs

What is the importance of Vaitaraṇī-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that donating the Vaitaraṇī cow is prescribed as a means for crossing the formidable Vaitaraṇī river on the post-death journey.

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

It links a specific ritual gift (dāna of the Vaitaraṇī cow) with overcoming a key obstacle on the preta-mārga—symbolically enabling passage across the Vaitaraṇī.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It emphasizes intentional charity and prescribed rites for ancestors—supporting dharmic giving and remembrance practices associated with funerary/śrāddha traditions.