Shloka 23

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

दत्त्वा वा स्वर्णदानानि गो-मही-गज-वाजिनः / तीर्थं यदि लभेद् यस्तु मृत्युकाले स भाग्यवान्

Transliteration

dattvā vā svarṇadānāni go-mahī-gaja-vājinaḥ / tīrthaṃ yadi labhed yastu mṛtyukāle sa bhāgyavān

Translation

സ്വർണ്ണദാനം, ഗോദാനം, ഭൂമിദാനം, ഗജദാനം അല്ലെങ്കിൽ അശ്വദാനം ചെയ്താലും—മരണസമയത്ത് തീർത്ഥം ലഭിക്കുന്നവൻ തന്നെയാണ് സത്യത്തിൽ ഭാഗ്യവാൻ.

Word by Word

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धा॒तु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √dā; indeclinable verbal form (avyaya-kriyāviśeṣaṇa)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• svarṇa-dānāni: gifts of gold
• svarṇa-dānāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (svarṇasya dānāni)

• go-mahī-gaja-vājinaḥ: cows, land, elephants, and horses (as gifts)
• go-mahī-gaja-vājinaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + vājin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (cows, land, elephants, horses)

• tīrtham: a pilgrimage place
• tīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्तार्थक अव्यय)

• labhet: may obtain
• labhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धा॒तु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अवधारण/विरोधार्थक)

• mṛtyu-kāle: at the time of death
• mṛtyu-kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mṛtyoḥ kāle)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• bhāgyavān: fortunate
• bhāgyavān: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāgyavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; possessive adjective (मतुप्/वत्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Among meritorious acts (dāna), attaining a tīrtha at death is singled out as extraordinary bhāgya (fortune) with potent karmic fruit.

Vedantic Theme: Antima-smṛti and saṃskāra at life’s end shape the trajectory of consciousness; sacred context supports sattva and remembrance.

Application: Cultivate a life oriented to sacred remembrance; plan end-of-life spiritual supports (holy place, holy company, mantra, purity) rather than relying only on wealth-based merit.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.36.24 (setting out toward tīrtha near death); Garuda Purana 2.36.25 (tīrtha-snāna purifies; sin at tīrtha is grave)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of attaining a tīrtha at the time of death in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that even alongside major charities (gold, cows, land, elephants, horses), the person who attains a sacred tīrtha at death is considered especially blessed—implying a powerful culmination of merit and spiritual support at the final moment.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in Preta Kanda?

Preta Kanda emphasizes conditions that ease the post-death passage; here, charity (dāna) builds merit, while a tīrtha at death is portrayed as an exceptional aid—suggesting a more auspicious transition for the departing jīva.

Practical application of this teaching today?

Cultivate dāna as a lifelong discipline and prioritize sacred practices; if end-of-life pilgrimage is not possible, one can bring tīrtha-elements home (tīrtha-jala, remembrance of holy places, mantra-japa) and maintain a dharmic life to prepare for a peaceful, auspicious death.