Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

तदैब दानकालः स्याद्यतः सम्पत्तिरस्थिरा / अनित्यानि शरीराणि विभवो नैव शाश्वतः

Transliteration

tadaiba dānakālaḥ syādyataḥ sampattirasthirā / anityāni śarīrāṇi vibhavo naiva śāśvataḥ

Translation

Itulah sesungguhnya waktu yang tepat untuk bersedekah, kerana harta itu tidak teguh; tubuh-tubuh ini tidak kekal, dan kemakmuran tidak pernah abadi.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• दान-कालः: time for giving
• दान-कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दानस्य कालः)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (causal: because/since)

• सम्पत्तिः: wealth/prosperity
• सम्पत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्थिरा: unstable
• अस्थिरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सम्पत्तिः)

• अनित्यानि: impermanent
• अनित्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying शरीराणि)

• शरीराणि: bodies
• शरीराणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विभवः: splendour/wealth
• विभवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• शाश्वतः: eternal
• शाश्वतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying विभवः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Because wealth and body are impermanent, one should not delay charity; timely giving converts unstable possession into lasting merit.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya-viveka and vairāgya: recognition of impermanence redirects attachment into dharmic action and inner freedom.

Application: Practice regular giving; simplify possessions; treat surplus as stewardship; plan charitable acts without waiting for ‘perfect’ conditions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: existential/ethical setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: impermanence and urgency motifs in dharma/śrāddha contexts (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse stresses that charity should be done promptly because wealth and life are uncertain; giving while one can is presented as a dharmic use of unstable possessions.

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

By highlighting the impermanence of the body and fortunes, it frames dāna as a time-sensitive act that supports dharma and merit, themes repeatedly connected in the Preta Kanda to post-death welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do regular, intentional giving (supporting needy people, sacred duties, and ethical causes) without postponing, remembering that health, wealth, and status can change suddenly.