Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

आतुरे च ददेद्दानं विष्णुपूजाञ्च कारयेत् / अष्टाक्षरं तथा मन्त्रं जपेद्वा द्वादशाक्षरम्

Transliteration

āture ca dadeddānaṃ viṣṇupūjāñca kārayet / aṣṭākṣaraṃ tathā mantraṃ japedvā dvādaśākṣaram

Translation

Quando alguém está gravemente enfermo, deve-se fazer caridade e também providenciar o culto ao Senhor Viṣṇu. Deve-se recitar o mantra de oito sílabas, ou então entoar o mantra de doze sílabas.

Word by Word

• आतुरे: in (the case of) a distressed/ill (person)
• आतुरे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (in/for one who is distressed/ill)

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

• ददेत्: should give
• ददेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

• दानम्: a gift/charity
• दानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• विष्णुपूजाम्: worship of Viṣṇu
• विष्णुपूजाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः पूजा)

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

• कारयेत्: should cause (it) to be done / should have (it) performed
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) [णिच्-प्रत्ययः causative]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; णिचन्त-धातु (causative: ‘cause to do’)

• अष्टाक्षरम्: the eight-syllabled (mantra)
• अष्टाक्षरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (अष्टान्य् अक्षराणि यस्य)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb)

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• जपेत्: should recite (mentally)
• जपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्ययम् (particle of alternative)

• द्वादशाक्षरम्: the twelve-syllabled (mantra)
• द्वादशाक्षरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (द्वादशान्य् अक्षराणि यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: At the time of severe illness, merit and inner steadiness are cultivated through dana, Vishnu-puja, and mantra-japa (aṣṭākṣarī/dvādaśākṣarī).

Vedantic Theme: Smaraṇa at crisis-time; īśvara-prādhānya (God-centeredness) as support when the body fails.

Application: Arrange immediate charity (food, medicine, support to the needy), set up simple Vishnu worship, and begin steady japa of the aṣṭākṣarī or dvādaśākṣarī with a calm, continuous rhythm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/sickbed

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.30.40-42 (puja-vidhi and Vishnu-sarvavyāpti); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes: antima-smaraṇa and upāya at death-time

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

This verse recommends dāna at the time of grave illness as a direct spiritual support, paired with devotion to Viṣṇu, to steady the mind and generate merit at a critical transition.

How does this verse explain what should be done as death approaches?

It emphasizes practical devotional acts—arranging Viṣṇu-pūjā and chanting core Vaiṣṇava mantras (eight- or twelve-syllabled)—as immediate, accessible preparations when the body is failing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If someone is near death, offer charity in their name, arrange simple Viṣṇu worship (even at bedside), and support gentle mantra-japa (Aṣṭākṣarī or Dvādaśākṣarī) to keep awareness anchored in devotion.