Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

बालत्वे यच्च कौमारे यच्च परिणतौ च यत् / सर्वावम्थाकृतं पापं यच्च जन्मान्तरेष्वपि

Transliteration

bālatve yacca kaumāre yacca pariṇatau ca yat / sarvāvamthākṛtaṃ pāpaṃ yacca janmāntareṣvapi

Translation

ബാല്യത്തിൽ, കൗമാരത്തിൽ, യൗവനത്തിൽ, പരിപക്വതയിൽ ചെയ്ത ഏതു പാപവും—ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ എല്ലാ അവസ്ഥകളിലും ചെയ്തതും മുൻജന്മങ്ങളിൽ ചെയ്തതും—എല്ലാം നിശ്ചയമായി കണക്കിൽ വരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• बालत्वे: in childhood
• बालत्वे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• यत्: whatever (sin)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कौमारे: in boyhood/youth
• कौमारे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• यत्: whatever (sin)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• परिणतौ: in maturity
• परिणतौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिणति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यत्: whatever (sin)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• सर्वावस्थाकृतम्: done in all conditions/stages
• सर्वावस्थाकृतम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + अवस्था + कृत (कृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• यत्: whatever (sin)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• जन्मान्तरेषु: in other births
• जन्मान्तरेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्म + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle); समुच्चय/अपि = 'also/even'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma is cumulative and life-stage independent; deeds from this life and previous births ripen and are brought to account.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha and saṃskāra continuity across births; the jīva carries latent impressions until fructification.

Application: Practice continuous vigilance (kāya-manas-vāk), daily self-review, and timely prāyaścitta/dāna rather than postponing reform.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: general doctrine of karmic record and Yama’s scrutiny (contextual parallel within 2.30)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Karma
• Previous births

FAQs

What is the importance of accounting for sins across life stages in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that wrongdoing is not limited by age—sins from childhood, youth, and maturity all remain part of one’s karmic record and can bear results after death.

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

By emphasizing that even past-life sins are included, it frames the post-death journey as governed by cumulative karma, which determines the soul’s experiences in Yama’s domain and subsequent rebirth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with ongoing ethical vigilance, seek correction and expiation when harm is done, and avoid excusing misconduct as “childish” or “from the past,” since karma is portrayed as continuous across stages and lives.