Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

भाजनासनदानेन आमान्नभोजनेन च / आज्ययज्ञोपवीताभ्यां पदं सम्पूर्णतां व्रजेत्

Transliteration

bhājanāsanadānena āmānnabhojanena ca / ājyayajñopavītābhyāṃ padaṃ sampūrṇatāṃ vrajet

Translation

പാത്രവും ആസനവും ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നതാൽ, പാചകമില്ലാത്ത അന്നം ഭുജിക്കുന്നതാൽ, കൂടാതെ നെയ്യും യജ്ഞോപവീതവും അർപ്പിക്കുന്നതാൽ, ഒരാൾ തന്റെ പദത്തിന്റെ സമ്പൂർണ്ണതയെ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• भाजनासनदानेन: by giving a vessel and a seat
• भाजनासनदानेन: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाजन + आसन + दान (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; साधन/हेतुवाचक; समासः = (भाजनस्य आसनस्य) दानम्

• आमान्नभोजनेन: by (the act of) eating uncooked food
• आमान्नभोजनेन: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आम + अन्न + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/हेतुवाचक; समासः = आम-अन्नस्य भोजनम् (eating uncooked food)

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

• आज्ययज्ञोपवीताभ्याम्: by (giving/using) ghee and the sacred thread
• आज्ययज्ञोपवीताभ्याम्: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य + यज्ञोपवीत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः = आज्यं च यज्ञोपवीतं च; साधन/हेतुवाचक

• पदम्: a state/position (goal)
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• सम्पूर्णताम्: completeness, fulfillment
• सम्पूर्णताम्: Karma/Phala (Object/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्पूर्णता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थकक्रियायाः कर्म/फलवाचक (to completeness)

• व्रजेत्: would attain/go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death charity associated with śrāddha/antyeṣṭi observances (contextual)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Concrete acts—donating vessels and a seat, observing āma-anna (uncooked/simple food), offering ghee and yajñopavīta—produce ‘sampūrṇatā’, completeness of one’s allotted post-mortem state.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual-ethical karma supporting orderly transition; the body-to-subtle-body continuity addressed through symbolic provisions.

Application: In funerary charity, give practical household items (vessels, seating), support simple sattvic observances, and perform offerings with purity and intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: lists of dānas that relieve specific hardships on the yamamārga; Garuda Purana: śrāddha-related prescriptions involving ghṛta offerings and sacred-thread symbolism

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Yajñopavīta

FAQs

What is the importance of donating vessels and a seat in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that gifts like utensils and a seat contribute to the deceased’s welfare and help bring “completion” to the post-death journey, indicating ritual support through dāna.

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

It implies that specific observances—charity (dāna) and ritual offerings—serve as aids that make the soul’s onward passage more complete, aligning the preta’s transition with dharmic merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or memorial rites, include meaningful charity—especially essentials like utensils, seating, and ghee-related offerings—while keeping the intent focused on compassion and dharma.