Shloka 40
इत्येवं बहुशस्तार्क्ष्य नरकाः पापिनां स्मृताः / कर्मभिर्बहुभिः प्रोक्तैः सर्वशास्त्रेषु भाषितैः / दानोपकारं वक्ष्यामि यथा तत्र सुखं भवेत्
ityevaṃ bahuśastārkṣya narakāḥ pāpināṃ smṛtāḥ / karmabhirbahubhiḥ proktaiḥ sarvaśāstreṣu bhāṣitaiḥ / dānopakāraṃ vakṣyāmi yathā tatra sukhaṃ bhavet
ഇങ്ങനെ, ഹേ താർക്ഷ്യ, പാപികളുടെ നരകങ്ങൾ കർമ്മഭേദങ്ങൾ അനുസരിച്ച് പലവിധമായി സ്മരിക്കപ്പെട്ടതും സർവ്വശാസ്ത്രങ്ങളിലും പ്രസ്താവിക്കപ്പെട്ടതുമാണ്. ഇനി ദാനവും ഉപകാരവും ഉള്ള മഹിമ ഞാൻ പറയും; അതിനാൽ പരലോകത്തിൽ സുഖം ഉണ്ടാകും।
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Tārkṣya)
Afterlife Stage: Naraka
Concept: Scriptures correlate diverse karmas with diverse narakas; charity and beneficence are taught as means to secure well-being beyond death.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: purifying action (dāna) reduces bondage and supports sattva conducive to bhakti/jñāna.
Application: Adopt regular giving and service—food, water, shelter, protection, and support to the needy—as a deliberate karmic counterweight.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: subsequent sections on dāna, śrāddha, and remedies for preta-suffering; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated refrain that dāna alleviates post-mortem distress
FAQs
This verse transitions from describing narakas caused by sinful karma to teaching dāna-upakāra as a means that brings comfort and happiness in the post-death condition.
It states that hells are explained according to many kinds of actions (karma) across the śāstras, and then introduces charity and beneficence as actions that can yield सुख (well-being) in the hereafter.
Cultivate regular charity and helpful service alongside ethical conduct, treating dāna as a deliberate karmic practice that supports welfare beyond this life.