Shloka 7

Dharma-sāra: Dāna-mahātmyam, Karma-vāda, and the Conquest of Grief and Greed

Devanagari script

ये च होमजपस्नानदेवतार्चनतत्पराः / सत्यक्षमादयायुक्तास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Transliteration

ye ca homajapasnānadevatārcanatatparāḥ / satyakṣamādayāyuktāste narāḥ svargagāminaḥ

Translation

जे पुरुष होम, जप, स्नान व देवपूजनात तत्पर असून सत्य, क्षमा इत्यादी गुणांनी युक्त आहेत, ते स्वर्गास जातात।

Word by Word

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• होम: fire-offering (homa)
• होम: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• जप: recitation (japa)
• जप: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• स्नान: bathing
• स्नान: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• देवता: deity
• देवता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• अर्चन: worship
• अर्चन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• तत्पराः: devoted (intent)
• तत्पराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (devoted/intent)

• सत्य: truth
• सत्य: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• क्षमा: forbearance
• क्षमा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• आदय: and the like
• आदय: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासान्त-प्रयोगः; ‘आदि’ (etc.) अर्थे अव्ययवत् (indeclinable-like in compounds)

• युक्ताः: endowed (with)
• युक्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘युक्त’ = endowed/connected

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संकेत-सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun)

• नराः: men/people
• नराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्वर्गगामिनः: heaven-going
• स्वर्गगामिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुषार्थः: ‘स्वर्गं गच्छन्ति’ (going to heaven)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Svarga is attained through ritual discipline joined with ethical virtues (satya, kshama, etc.).

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-shuddhi through karma and sadguna; merit (punya) as a causal link to higher lokas.

Application: Maintain daily worship/recitation and cultivate truthfulness and forgiveness as inseparable supports to ritual life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Pretakalpa/Dharmakanda): recurring linkage of sadachara + ritual merit to svarga-gati; Garuda Purana: emphasis on satya, kshama as dharmic supports for punya

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of homa, japa, snāna, and devatā-arcana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that regular ritual acts—homa, mantra-japa, sacred bathing, and deity-worship—create merit (puṇya) that supports a higher post-death destination, especially when paired with inner virtues.

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

It links one’s conduct to one’s gati (destination): a life combining disciplined worship and moral qualities like truth and forgiveness results in a heaven-bound course (svarga-gamana) rather than suffering in lower realms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily spiritual discipline (prayer/japa, cleanliness, worship) and strengthen character (truthfulness, forgiveness); the Purana frames spiritual practice as incomplete without ethical virtues.