Shloka 10

The Explanation of Various Gifts (Dāna) and the Soul’s Entry into Another Body

Devanagari script

सर्वोपहारयुक्तानि पदान्यत्र त्रयोदश / यो ददाति मृतस्येह जीवन्नप्यात्महेतवे / स गच्छति महामार्गे महाकष्टविवर्जितः

Transliteration

sarvopahārayuktāni padānyatra trayodaśa / yo dadāti mṛtasyeha jīvannapyātmahetave / sa gacchati mahāmārge mahākaṣṭavivarjitaḥ

Translation

ഇവിടെ ഉപഹാരങ്ങളോടുകൂടിയ പതിമൂന്ന് പദങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ട്. ജീവിച്ചിരിക്കുമ്പോഴും മരിച്ചവനുവേണ്ടി, ആത്മഹിതാർത്ഥം, ഇവ ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ—മഹാമാർഗ്ഗത്തിലൂടെ ചെന്നു മഹാകഷ്ടങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് വിമുക്തനാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सर्वोपहारयुक्तानि: endowed with all offerings
• सर्वोपहारयुक्तानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-उपहार-युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वैः उपहारैः युक्तानि) पदानि विशेषयति

• पदानि: steps/places (ritual items termed 'pada')
• पदानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here/in this context)

• त्रयोदश: thirteen
• त्रयोदश: Visheshana (Number/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयोदशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (नपुंसक-प्रयोगः पदानि विशेषयति)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मृतस्य: for the deceased
• मृतस्य: Sampradana (Beneficiary/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of the dead person)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (here/in this world)

• जीवन्: living (while alive)
• जीवन्: Karta (Agent qualifier/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि (while living)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (even/also)

• आत्महेतवे: for his own benefit/purpose
• आत्महेतवे: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्म-हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः हेतुः); प्रयोजनार्थे चतुर्थी (for one’s own purpose)

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

• गच्छति: goes/attains
• गच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महामार्गे: on the great path
• महामार्गे: Adhikarana (Path/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् मार्गः)

• महाकष्टविवर्जितः: free from great suffering
• महाकष्टविवर्जितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-कष्ट-विवर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) विवर्जित; तत्पुरुषः (महाकष्टैः विवर्जितः = free from great hardships)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Associated with the sequence culminating around trayodaśa (thirteen-step/offerings framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Performing the prescribed thirteen offering-steps for the deceased—ideally arranged while one is alive—secures welfare and reduces suffering on the soul’s journey.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and preparedness: deliberate dharmic provisioning (saṃskāra-oriented giving) shapes the subtle trajectory after death; responsibility extends beyond one lifespan.

Application: Plan and perform the prescribed sequence of offerings (as per tradition/family śrāddha manual) for the deceased; where possible, arrange one’s own end-of-life rites and charitable bequests to reduce burden on survivors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: post-mortem route

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of the soul’s journey and supports provided by śrāddha/dāna; Garuda Purana: ‘thirteen’ (trayodaśa) rites/offerings associated with post-death observances in some traditions

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of the thirteen offering-steps mentioned in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights a structured set of thirteen ritual “steps” performed with offerings, taught as a means to support the deceased and ensure a smoother passage on the soul’s onward journey.

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

It states that when these prescribed offerings are duly given for the departed, the journey is described as the “great path” (mahāmārga) and is experienced without extreme hardships.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform post-death rites responsibly (directly or through qualified priests), cultivate charity and dharmic conduct while living, and treat ritual support for ancestors as an ethical duty rather than mere formality.