Shloka 30

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

यने दत्तेन दानेन सर्वं पापं व्यपोहति / लवणं तद्रसं दिव्यं सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम्

Transliteration

yane dattena dānena sarvaṃ pāpaṃ vyapohati / lavaṇaṃ tadrasaṃ divyaṃ sarvakāmapradaṃ nṛṇām

Translation

施しとして捧げられた布施によって、あらゆる罪は払い除かれる。塩は—その供物の神聖なる味わいとして—人々の望むすべての成就を授ける。

Word by Word

• येन: by which
• येन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• दत्तेन: given
• दत्तेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय) → दत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• दानेन: by the gift/charity
• दानेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्यपोहति: removes, dispels
• व्यपोहति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-उह् (धातु) (उहँ—अपोहन) + वि/व्य (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• लवणम्: salt
• लवणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• रसम्: taste/essence
• रसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सर्वकामप्रदम्: granting all desires
• सर्वकामप्रदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + काम + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक); प्रद = प्र + दा (धातु) + क (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सर्वेषां कामानां प्रदम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna as pāpa-kṣaya (removal of sin) and as a means to attain desired ends; salt-gift singled out as especially efficacious.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama (moral causality): intentional righteous action yields purifying and prosperity-conferring results.

Application: Practice anna-dāna with appropriate accompaniments (salt) and right intention, especially in contexts of ritual hospitality and merit-making.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.31-34 (lavaṇa-dāna, pitṛ-priyatā, svarga-prāpti, death-context)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Humans (nṛṇām)

FAQs

What is the importance of salt (lavaṇa) donation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that giving (as dāna), specifically salt, is a powerful purifier that removes sins and is praised as bringing auspicious fulfillment of aims.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in Preta Kanda?

In Preta Kanda, merit-making acts like dāna are presented as remedies that reduce the burden of pāpa, supporting the departed and the living through ritual ethics and purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice sincere charity—especially simple, essential gifts given respectfully—using dāna as a discipline for ethical living and inner purification.