Shloka 43

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

धर्मप्लवविहीनानां तारको हि जनार्दनः / तिला लोहं हिरण्यं च कार्पासं लवणं तथा

Transliteration

dharmaplavavihīnānāṃ tārako hi janārdanaḥ / tilā lohaṃ hiraṇyaṃ ca kārpāsaṃ lavaṇaṃ tathā

Translation

ധർമ്മമെന്ന തോണിയില്ലാത്തവർക്ക് ജനാർദനൻ (വിഷ്ണു) തന്നെയാണ് രക്ഷകൻ. (ശ്രാദ്ധാദി കർമങ്ങളിൽ) എള്ള്, ഇരുമ്പ്, സ്വർണം, പരുത്തി, ഉപ്പ് മുതലായ ദാനങ്ങളും നിർദ്ദേശിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• धर्मप्लवविहीनानाम्: of those devoid of the raft of dharma
• धर्मप्लवविहीनानाम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + प्लव + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• तारकः: the deliverer/savior
• तारकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) अव्यय; emphasis/indeed

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• जनार्दनः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Proper noun, nominative singular

• तिलाः: sesame seeds
• तिलाः: Karta (Item enumerated/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural (list item)

• लोहम्: iron/metal
• लोहम्: Karta (Item enumerated/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (list item)

• हिरण्यम्: gold
• हिरण्यम्: Karta (Item enumerated/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (list item)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कार्पासम्: cotton
• कार्पासम्: Karta (Item enumerated/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्पास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (list item)

• लवणम्: salt
• लवणम्: Karta (Item enumerated/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (list item)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunctive) = 'likewise/also'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Janardana) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Within śrāddha-dāna prescriptions connected to preta support

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When one lacks the ‘raft of dharma,’ Janārdana serves as the deliverer; material offerings (tila, iron, gold, cotton, salt) support rites and welfare.

Vedantic Theme: Śaraṇāgati: ultimate refuge in the Lord; dharma and dāna as supports, but divine grace as the decisive crossing-power.

Application: Cultivate Viṣṇu-remembrance alongside ritual duties; include prescribed dāna items in śrāddha/antyeṣṭi contexts as feasible.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Viṣṇu as tāraṇa (deliverer) in mokṣa and preta contexts; Garuda Purana: tiladāna and other dānas for preta welfare in surrounding verses

Characters & Entities

• Janardana (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'dharma-plava' (raft of dharma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dharma as the primary support that carries a being through post-death vulnerability; when that support is absent, refuge in Viṣṇu (Janārdana) is described as the saving means.

How does this verse explain help for the soul after death?

It presents two supports: spiritual—Viṣṇu as the deliverer for those lacking merit—and ritual/ethical—prescribed offerings (tilā, loha, hiraṇya, kārpāsa, lavaṇa) associated with śrāddha/preta-oriented acts meant to aid and steady the departed condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharma as daily conduct, and when performing ancestral or funeral-related rites, include sincere charity/daana in a spirit of compassion—while remembering Viṣṇu as the ultimate refuge beyond one’s shortcomings.