Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 6

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

यज्वा दानपतिः श्रीमान्ब्रह्मण्यः साधुसंमतः / शीलाचारगुणोपेतो दयादाक्षिण्यसंयुतः

Transliteration

yajvā dānapatiḥ śrīmānbrahmaṇyaḥ sādhusaṃmataḥ / śīlācāraguṇopeto dayādākṣiṇyasaṃyutaḥ

Translation

அவன் யாகம் செய்பவன், தானத்தின் தலைவன், செல்வச் சிறப்புடையவன்; பிராமணர்களுக்கும் தர்மத்திற்கும் அர்ப்பணித்தவன், சான்றோர் போற்றியவன்; நல்லொழுக்கம், நன்னடத்தை, நற்குணங்கள் உடையவன்; கருணையும் தாராளமும் நிறைந்தவன்.

Word by Word

• यज्वा: a sacrificer (one who performs yajña)
• यज्वा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्विप्/वन् (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• दानपतिः: lord of gifts; generous patron
• दानपतिः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान-पति (प्रातिपदिक; दान + पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• श्रीमान्: prosperous; illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्यय (possessive)

• ब्रह्मण्यः: devoted to Brahmins / pious
• ब्रह्मण्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• साधुसंमतः: approved by the good (people)
• साधुसंमतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधु-संमत (प्रातिपदिक; साधु + संमत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शीलाचारगुणोपेतः: endowed with good conduct, practice, and virtues
• शीलाचारगुणोपेतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शील-आचार-गुण-उपेत (प्रातिपदिक; शील + आचार + गुण + उपेत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दया-दाक्षिण्य-सम्युतः: possessed of compassion and generosity
• दया-दाक्षिण्य-सम्युतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दया-दाक्षिण्य-सम्युत (प्रातिपदिक; दया + दाक्षिण्य + सम्युत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Integrated dharma: yajña (sacrifice), dāna (charity), brahmaṇya (support of brahmins/veda), and personal virtues (śīla, ācāra, dayā, dākṣiṇya) together constitute righteous life.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-śuddhi through karma-yoga-like dharmic action; sattva cultivation as preparation for higher knowledge.

Application: Practice consistent generosity, support learning and ethical institutions, cultivate compassion and courteous giving; align ritual action with character.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of dāna-pati and śrāddha-supporting virtues as causes of auspicious post-death outcomes

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas
• Sadhus (the righteous)

FAQs

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

This verse presents dāna as a defining mark of the dharmic person—paired with yajña, compassion, and right conduct—implying that generosity is a primary source of merit (puṇya) supporting spiritual welfare.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa framework, virtues like yajña, dāna, and dayā are repeatedly treated as merit-producing qualities that help a being face post-death judgment and transitions with greater spiritual support.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice regular giving, maintain ethical conduct, support sacred learning and service-minded communities, and cultivate compassion—making dharma a daily habit rather than an occasional ritual.