Shloka 3

Dāna for the Preta: Supreme Gifts, Yama’s Pacification, and Viṣṇu-Smaraṇa at the Time of Death

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माद्या देवताः सर्वाः कार्याच्च प्रीतिमाप्नुयुः / देयमेतन्महादानं प्रेतोद्धरणहेतवे

Transliteration

brahmādyā devatāḥ sarvāḥ kāryācca prītimāpnuyuḥ / deyametanmahādānaṃ pretoddharaṇahetave

Translation

ഈ കർമം മൂലം ബ്രഹ്മാദി സർവ്വ ദേവതകളും പ്രസന്നരാകുന്നു; അതിനാൽ പ്രേതോദ്ധരണത്തിനായി ഈ മഹാദാനം നൽകണം।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माद्याः: beginning with Brahmā
• ब्रह्माद्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmā + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मा आदिः येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• देवताः: deities
• देवताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कार्याच्च: from the act (being done), and
• कार्याच्च: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक) + ca (अव्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; च = समुच्चय-अव्यय

• प्रीतिम्: pleasure; satisfaction
• प्रीतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• आप्नुयुः: would attain
• आप्नुयुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• देयम्: should be given
• देयम्: Kriya (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु) + ya (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महादानम्: great gift
• महादानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रेतोद्धरणहेतवे: for the purpose of rescuing the departed spirit
• प्रेतोद्धरणहेतवे: Sampradana (Purpose/recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta + uddharaṇa + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रेतस्य उद्धरणस्य हेतुः); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death śrāddha-associated giving (auर्ध्वदेहika context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mahādāna pleases Brahmā and all devas and serves as a cause for ‘preta-uddhāra’ (deliverance of the departed spirit).

Vedantic Theme: Compassionate karma directed to others’ welfare (parārtha) refines the giver and supports cosmic harmony; ritual action as upāya within dharma.

Application: Perform charity in memory of the deceased with explicit intention for their welfare; pair giving with prayers and ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual context spanning human and divine spheres

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta’s intermediate condition and means of alleviation via śrāddha/dāna; Garuda Purana lists of naraka causes and remedies through rites and gifts

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devas
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of Mahā-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the great gift (mahā-dāna) pleases all deities and is specifically prescribed as a cause for pretoddharaṇa—helping rescue the departed from the preta-condition.

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

It implies an intermediate preta-state after death in which the departed may need support; performing the proper rite and giving mahā-dāna are presented as means that aid the departed’s upliftment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform post-death rites with sincerity and accompany them with meaningful charity (food, support to the needy, ritual gifts as per tradition), treating dāna as an ethical act dedicated to the departed’s welfare.