Shloka 19

Preta-mārga Supports (Dāna), Chitragupta’s Accounting, and the Enumeration of Narakas

Devanagari script

आसने स्वागते (भोजने) चैव दत्तं तस्मै द्विजायते / सुखेन भुङ्क्ते स प्रेतः पथि गच्छञ्छनैः शनैः

Transliteration

āsane svāgate (bhojane) caiva dattaṃ tasmai dvijāyate / sukhena bhuṅkte sa pretaḥ pathi gacchañchanaiḥ śanaiḥ

Translation

ആ ദ്വിജന്‍ (ബ്രാഹ്മണന്‍) ആസനം, സ്വാഗതം, ഭോജനം എന്നിവ നല്‍കിയാല്‍, പ്രേതന്‍ പാതയില്‍ പതുക്കെ പോകുമ്പോള്‍ അതേ ദാനം സുഖത്തോടെ അനുഭവിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• आसने: in/for a seat
• आसने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• स्वागते: in/at welcome (hospitality)
• स्वागते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वागत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; (स्वागत-भोज्यादौ) अधिकरण

• भोजने: in/at a meal
• भोजने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; (पाठान्तर/कोष्ठकस्थ)

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

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण/निश्चयार्थक निपात (emphatic)

• दत्तम्: given (a gift)
• दत्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• द्विजायते: to a twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विजायते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; (द्विजाय) + इति/ते (पाठभेदसम्भव); अर्थतः ‘द्विजाय’

• सुखेन: comfortably, with ease
• सुखेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial instrumental)

• भुङ्क्ते: enjoys, eats
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रेतः: the departed spirit
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• गच्छन्: going
• गच्छन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle)

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Sambandha/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शनैः: very slowly
• शनैः: Sambandha/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Atithi-satkāra and feeding the dvija, when done with right intent, becomes nourishment and ease for the departed on the post-death path.

Vedantic Theme: Yajña-bhāva in daily acts (offering-spirit) purifies the doer; karma becomes supportive conditions for the jīva’s journey.

Application: Practice hospitality: offer seat, respectful welcome, and food to deserving guests/priests/needful persons; dedicate merit to ancestors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: path/road segment with pauses

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: atithi-dharma and śrāddha-adjacent gifting as preta-upakāra (aid to the departed); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated emphasis that offerings to brāhmaṇas reach the preta

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Dvija (Brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of hospitality (āsana, svāgata, bhojana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that honoring and feeding a dvija is not merely social etiquette—it becomes subtle support that the preta can ‘enjoy’ as sustenance/relief during its post-death journey.

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

It describes the preta moving along a difficult route “slowly, step by step,” and indicates that merits generated through offerings to a worthy recipient translate into comfort and nourishment for the departing being on that path.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice atithi-satkara and charitable feeding, especially during śrāddha-related observances, with sincerity—treating such giving as dharma that supports ancestors and cultivates compassion in daily life.