Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

आसनं भाजनं भोज्यं दीयते यद्द्विजायते / सुखे न भुञ्जमानस्तु देन गच्छत्यलं पथि

Transliteration

āsanaṃ bhājanaṃ bhojyaṃ dīyate yaddvijāyate / sukhe na bhuñjamānastu dena gacchatyalaṃ pathi

Translation

ദ്വിജനായ ബ്രാഹ്മണന് നൽകുന്ന ആസനം, പാത്രം, ഭോജ്യം എന്നിവ പ്രേതന്റെ യാത്രാമാർഗ്ഗത്തിൽ പുണ്യസാമഗ്രിയായി മാറുന്നു. ഇഹലോകസുഖം അനുഭവിക്കാതിരുന്നാലും ആ ദാനബലത്തിൽ സുസജ്ജനായി പരലോകപഥത്തിൽ പോകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• āsanam: a seat
• āsanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• bhājanam: a vessel/bowl
• bhājanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhājana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• bhojyam: food (edible item)
• bhojyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• dīyate: is given
• dīyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धा) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Present Indicative, 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• yat: which/that
• yat: Sambandha (Relational/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (यद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• dvijāyate: to a twice-born (Brahmin)
• dvijāyate: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Dative, Singular

• sukhe: in comfort/at ease
• sukhe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Locative, Singular

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• bhuñjamānaḥ: (one) eating
• bhuñjamānaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (भुज्) (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Present active participle; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/contrastive particle)

• dena: by this/thereby
• dena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Instrumental, Singular; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• gacchati: goes
• gacchati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम्) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Present Indicative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• alam: sufficiently/well
• alam: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: alam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (पर्याप्ति/समर्थ्य-अर्थे; adverb)

• pathi: on the path
• pathi: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathin (पथिन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death śrāddha period (preta-stage rites; typically within the first year, especially early days depending on tradition).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna to a worthy recipient (dvija) transforms into post-mortem support for the departed; merit functions as ‘equipment’ on the soul’s path.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and subtle continuity (saṃskāra) beyond death; ethical action as support in saṃsāra.

Application: Perform śrāddha-linked charity: offer seat, vessel, and food to a qualified brāhmaṇa with sankalpa for the departed; cultivate generosity even without personal luxury.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-prakaraṇa: dāna as preta-upakāra; lists of śrāddha-dānas and their phala (adjacent verses 2.31.12–15).

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (Brahmana)
• Preta (implied departed soul)

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse teaches that gifts like a seat, utensils, and food offered to a dvija become supportive provisions for the departed, helping the soul proceed properly on the post-death path.

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

It implies that the preta’s journey is aided by ritual giving: even if the living donor does not enjoy luxuries, the merit of such offerings equips the departed for the onward passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charitable giving—especially food and essentials—in connection with funerary rites or remembrance, emphasizing selfless support for dharma rather than personal consumption.