Shloka 44

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

विविधैर्दानयोगैश्च विप्राः सन्तर्पिता मया / आहारश्च विहारश्च मया वै सुनिवेशितः

Transliteration

vividhairdānayogaiśca viprāḥ santarpitā mayā / āhāraśca vihāraśca mayā vai suniveśitaḥ

Translation

ഞാൻ വിവിധ ദാനയോഗങ്ങളാൽ വിപ്രന്മാരെ തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തി; അവരുടെ ആഹാരവും വിഹാരവും (സുഖസൗകര്യങ്ങളും) യഥാവിധി ഒരുക്കി നൽകി।

Word by Word

• विविधैः: by various
• विविधैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Instrumental plural, masc.)

• दानयोगैः: by means of acts/ways of giving
• दानयोगैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दानस्य योगाः) (Instrumental plural, masc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• विप्राः: Brahmins
• विप्राः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural, masc.)

• सन्तर्पिताः: were satisfied/fully fed
• सन्तर्पिताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सन्तर्पय् (धातु) → सन्तर्पित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘विप्राः’ सह (past passive participle: ‘were satisfied’)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular: ‘by me’)

• आहारः: food/provisions
• आहारः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, masc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• विहारः: lodging/recreation/comforts
• विहारः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, masc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः/अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle)

• सुनिवेशितः: was well arranged/provided
• सुनिवेशितः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + नि + विश् (धातु) → निवेशित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (well arranged/provided)

Speaker

A deceased soul (preta) speaking before Yama’s judgment (as self-justification of merits)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dana and proper hospitality (anna-vihara) to worthy recipients as a pillar of grihastha-dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Karma (puṇya) accrues through sattvic giving when aligned with dharma and right intention.

Application: Practice structured charity: feed and honor learned/ethical persons, support their needs without ostentation, and keep giving regular and accountable.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa): repeated emphasis that dana and anna-dana support post-death welfare when paired with shraddha and proper rites

Characters & Entities

• Vipras (Brahmins)

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents dāna—especially acts that satisfy and support vipras—as a key meritorious deed remembered at the time of judgment, indicating that generosity and proper hospitality contribute to one’s positive karmic balance.

How does this verse relate to Yama’s judgment and the soul’s after-death journey?

Spoken in the context of post-death accounting, the soul cites charitable acts—feeding and caring for Brahmins—as evidence of dharma, implying that such deeds are weighed when determining the preta’s experience and destination.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Practice ethical giving: support learned and needy persons, offer food with respect, and ensure charity is organized and sincere—treating nourishment and basic comforts as sacred duties rather than displays.