Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

कमण्डलुप्रदानेन तृषितः पिबते जलम्

Transliteration

kamaṇḍalupradānena tṛṣitaḥ pibate jalam

Translation

കമണ്ഡലു (ജലപാത്രം) ദാനം ചെയ്താൽ ദാഹിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന പ്രേതന് ജലം കുടിക്കാൻ സാധിക്കും; ദാനബലത്തിൽ അവന്റെ ദാഹം ശമിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• kamaṇḍalu-pradānena: by the giving of a water-pot (kamaṇḍalu)
• kamaṇḍalu-pradānena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamaṇḍalu (प्रातिपदिक) + pradāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कस्य? कमण्डलोः प्रदानेन)

• tṛṣitaḥ: the thirsty (person)
• tṛṣitaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛṣita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त/निष्पन्न-विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• pibate: drinks
• pibate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (पा) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Present Indicative, 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada

• jalam: water
• jalam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During preta-stage śrāddha/charity observances; also suitable on death anniversaries as udaka-dāna.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific dāna yields specific phala: gifting a kamaṇḍalu enables the departed to drink, alleviating thirst in the after-death passage.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s precise correspondence (yathā-karma-phala); compassion expressed through ritualized ethics.

Application: Offer a water-pot (or water charity) with sankalpa for the deceased; maintain water-dāna as a regular vow, especially in hot seasons.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.31: itemized śrāddha-dānas and their direct benefits to the preta (contextual sequence).

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

This verse states a direct ritual-phala (result): donating a water-pot provides relief from thirst to the departed (preta) in the post-death journey.

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

It implies the preta experiences tangible hardships such as thirst, and that prescribed gifts/offerings by the living can ease those conditions during the transitional afterlife passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha-related charity with intention—especially water/utensil donations—cultivating compassion and responsibility toward ancestors and the vulnerable.