Shloka 52

Dāna for the Preta: Supreme Gifts, Yama’s Pacification, and Viṣṇu-Smaraṇa at the Time of Death

Devanagari script

गावो ममाग्रतः सन्तु पृष्ठतः पार्श्वतस्तथा / गावो मे हृदये सन्तु गवां मध्ये वसाम्यहम्

Transliteration

gāvo mamāgrataḥ santu pṛṣṭhataḥ pārśvatastathā / gāvo me hṛdaye santu gavāṃ madhye vasāmyaham

Translation

Semoga lembu-lembu berada di hadapanku, di belakangku, dan juga di sisi-sisiku. Semoga lembu-lembu bersemayam di dalam hatiku; aku tinggal di tengah-tengah lembu-lembu.

Word by Word

• गावः: cows
• गावः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मम: of me/my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (spatial adverb)

• सन्तु: may (they) be
• सन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पृष्ठतः: behind
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (spatial adverb)

• पार्श्वतः: at the sides
• पार्श्वतः: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पार्श्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (spatial adverb)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• गावः: cows
• गावः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मे: my/of me
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (enclitic)

• हृदये: in (my) heart
• हृदये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• सन्तु: may (they) be
• सन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः)

• वसामि: I dwell
• वसामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present/वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda, within the Preta Kanda context of rites and protections)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Seeking refuge in the sanctity of cows—externally surrounding and internally enthroned—expresses surrender and purification.

Vedantic Theme: Āśraya (refuge) and antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi: sacred symbols internalized to steady the mind and orient it toward dharma.

Application: Cultivate reverence for life-sustaining beings; practice protective remembrance (smaraṇa) and gratitude; support ethical animal care and non-violence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.30: cow-related expiation/protection sequence following go-dāna

Characters & Entities

• Gāvaḥ (cows)

FAQs

What is the importance of cows (gāvaḥ) in Garuda Purana rites?

This verse treats cows as a sacred protective presence—surrounding the person externally and internally—reflecting the Purana’s emphasis on go-sevā/go-dāna as highly meritorious (puṇya) support in death-related observances.

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

In the Preta Kanda’s ritual framework, invoking auspicious protectors is meant to reduce fear and obstacles; the imagery of being “amid cows” conveys spiritual shelter and merit that traditionally aids the departed’s difficult passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate reverence and care for animals—especially cows where culturally relevant—through ethical protection, charitable support (go-dāna/go-śālā service), and remembrance practices that strengthen compassion and dharma.