Shloka 97

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

आत्मा शम्भुः शिवा गौरी शक्रः सुरगणैः सह / तस्माच्छय्याप्रदानेन सैष आत्मा प्रसीदतु

Transliteration

ātmā śambhuḥ śivā gaurī śakraḥ suragaṇaiḥ saha / tasmācchayyāpradānena saiṣa ātmā prasīdatu

Translation

ആത്മാവുതന്നെ ശംഭു (ശിവൻ), ആത്മാവുതന്നെ ശിവാ-ഗൗരി, ദേവഗണങ്ങളോടുകൂടിയ ശക്രൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) പോലും ആത്മാവുതന്നെ; അതിനാൽ ശയ്യാദാനത്താൽ ഈ ആത്മാവ് പ്രസന്നമാകട്ടെ।

Word by Word

• ātmā: the Self
• ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śambhuḥ: Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समानााधिकरण—'आत्मा' इत्यस्य

• śivā: Śivā
• śivā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समानााधिकरण

• gaurī: Gaurī
• gaurī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समानााधिकरण

• śakraḥ: Śakra (Indra)
• śakraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समानााधिकरण

• sura-gaṇaiḥ: with the hosts of gods
• sura-gaṇaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura-gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya—postposition (उपपद) meaning 'with'; commonly with instrumental

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya—ablatival adverb (तस्मात् = 'therefore/from that')

• śayyā-pradānena: by the giving of a bed
• śayyā-pradānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayyā + pradāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sā: that (she/that one)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'आत्मा' इत्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण (agreement by sense)

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'आत्मा' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• ātmā: the Self
• ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• prasīdatu: may (he/it) be pleased
• prasīdatu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-sad (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्/Imperative), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As part of the dāna sequence (śayyā-pradāna) within the broader rite.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ātman’s all-pervasive divinity: the Self is revered as Śiva-Śakti and Indra with the gods; thus, pleasing the Self through dharmic gift (bed-offering) is spiritually meaningful.

Vedantic Theme: Non-dual/integrative vision (ātman as the inner reality behind divine names and forms); reconciliation of sectarian deities within a single Self-principle.

Application: Perform dāna with the understanding that honoring beings and deities ultimately honors the same inner Self; cultivate reverence and non-sectarian breadth while fulfilling rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space of dāna (gift-offering)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.93-96 (items, worship, mantra, pratimā offering)

Characters & Entities

• Atman (Self)
• Shiva (Shambhu)
• Shiva/Gauri (Devi, Parvati)
• Indra (Shakra)
• Devas (Suraganas)

FAQs

What is the importance of Shayya-dana (gift of a bed) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames shayyā-pradāna as a spiritually potent gift: by offering a bed, one seeks the satisfaction and well-being of the very Atman, implying that such charity has deep ritual and inner significance in death-related rites.

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

While not describing the route explicitly, it links post-death ritual charity to the soul’s welfare by identifying the Atman with divine powers; the implication is that supporting rites (like shayya-dana) aids the departed through subtle, sacred law (dharma).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charity with the understanding that serving beings and supporting dharmic rites is reverence to the Self; when doing śrāddha or memorial giving, include meaningful, need-fulfilling donations (symbolized here by a bed/rest).