Shloka 26

Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite

Devanagari script

स्वर्णशृङ्गीं रौप्यखुरां कांस्यपात्रोपदोहनीम् / कृष्णवस्त्रयुगाच्छन्नां सप्तधान्यसमन्विताम्

Transliteration

svarṇaśṛṅgīṃ raupyakhurāṃ kāṃsyapātropadohanīm / kṛṣṇavastrayugācchannāṃ saptadhānyasamanvitām

Translation

സ്വർണ്ണശൃംഗങ്ങളും വെള്ളിഖുരങ്ങളും ഉള്ള, കാംസപാത്രത്തിൽ ദോഹനയോഗ്യമായ പശുവിനെ; കൃഷ്ണവസ്ത്രയുഗംകൊണ്ട് മൂടി, സപ്തധാന്യങ്ങളോടുകൂടി—ഇങ്ങനെ ദാനം ചെയ്യണം।

Word by Word

• स्वर्ण-शृङ्गीम्: having golden horns
• स्वर्ण-शृङ्गीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + शृङ्गिन्/शृङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्णस्य शृङ्गे यस्याः)

• रौप्य-खुराम्: with silver hooves
• रौप्य-खुराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौप्य (प्रातिपदिक) + खुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रौप्यस्य खुराः यस्याः)

• कांस्य-पात्र-उपदोहनीम्: with a bronze milking-vessel
• कांस्य-पात्र-उपदोहनीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कांस्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उपदोहनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (कांस्यस्य पात्रं यस्याः उपदोहनी/दोहनी)

• कृष्ण-वस्त्र-युग-आच्छन्नाम्: covered with a pair of black cloths
• कृष्ण-वस्त्र-युग-आच्छन्नाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक) + आच्छन्न (कृदन्त; आ+छद् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः; आच्छन्न = भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• सप्त-धान्य-समन्विताम्: accompanied by seven kinds of grain
• सप्त-धान्य-समन्विताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + धान्य (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (कृदन्त; सम्+अन्वि/इ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (सप्त धान्यानि) + समन्वित (युक्त)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death śrāddha context (preta-related rites; often aligned with ekoddiṣṭa sequence in prayoga traditions)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna performed with prescribed symbols becomes a karmic support for the departed and a purifier for the giver.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as preparatory purification (citta-śuddhi) supporting higher aims.

Application: Perform śrāddha-related dāna with integrity: correct intention, proper recipients, and faithful observance of prescribed items (or sincere substitutes where necessary).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (griha/śrāddha-maṇḍapa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.47.27-30 (Yama image, raft, mantra to Vaitaraṇī); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes: Vaitaraṇī crossing aided by dāna

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of prescribed dāna (charitable gifting) in the Garuda Purana’s Preta rites?

This verse presents a specific, auspicious form of dāna—cow-gift with symbolic purity and completeness—used within Preta-related rites to support dharmic merit and ritual efficacy for the departed.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, such offerings are described as supportive ritual provisions—acts of merit performed by the living—intended to aid the Preta’s difficult post-death passage and improve its condition through dharmic support.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If the exact items are impractical, the takeaway is to perform sincere charity and śrāddha-related giving with purity of intent—supporting food, cowsheds, or essential needs—in remembrance of the departed and in alignment with dharma.