Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 35
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and Dāna as the Soul’s True Companion on the Path to Yama
कोशं त्वदीयं ज्वलितञ्च वह्निना पुत्त्रैर्गृहीतो धनधान्य सञ्चयः / सुभाषितं धर्मचयं कृतञ्च यत्तदेव गच्छेत्तव पृष्ठसंस्थम्
kośaṃ tvadīyaṃ jvalitañca vahninā puttrairgṛhīto dhanadhānya sañcayaḥ / subhāṣitaṃ dharmacayaṃ kṛtañca yattadeva gacchettava pṛṣṭhasaṃstham
汝の蔵は火に焼かれ、蓄えた財と穀物は子らに奪われる。されど汝が語った善き言葉と、積み重ねたダルマの蔵—ただそれのみが汝の背後に従い、真の伴となる。
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)
Concept: Only dharma (puṇya) and one’s śubha-vāk (good speech) ‘follow’ after death; possessions are lost to fire/time/heirs.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and anityatā: the subtle ‘saṃskāra/puṇya’ accompanies the jīva, not external objects.
Application: Prioritize dāna, truthful-kind speech, and dharmic acts; plan life as if wealth can vanish and heirs will inherit.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated motif that only dharma accompanies the departed (contextual across Pretakalpa/ācāra sections)
FAQs
This verse states that possessions are lost to fire or inherited by heirs, while one’s accumulated dharma and virtuous speech alone accompany the soul after death.
It contrasts perishable assets (treasury, grain, wealth) with imperishable assets (merit and righteous conduct), teaching that only dharma ‘follows behind’ the departing being.
Prioritize ethical actions, charity, truthful and beneficial speech, and dharmic living over hoarding—because reputation, merit, and character outlast material holdings.