Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 24
गृहात् प्रचलितस्तीर्थं मरणे समुपस्थिते / पदेपदे तु गोदानं यदि हिंसा न जायते
gṛhāt pracalitastīrthaṃ maraṇe samupasthite / padepade tu godānaṃ yadi hiṃsā na jāyate
மரணம் நெருங்கியபோது வீட்டிலிருந்து புறப்பட்டு தீர்த்தத்தை நோக்கிச் செல்லும்வனுக்கு தீர்த்தயாத்திரை புண்ணியம் கிடைக்கும்; எந்தவித ஹிம்சையும் ஏற்படாவிட்டால், ஒவ்வொரு அடியிலும் கோதானப் பலன் கிடைத்ததுபோல் ஆகும்.
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: At life’s end, purposeful movement toward the sacred yields great merit, but must be free from causing harm.
Vedantic Theme: Ahiṃsā as sattva-enhancing discipline; intentionality (saṅkalpa) and purity of means shape karmic fruit.
Application: In urgent transitions, keep ethics intact: pursue spiritual goals without harming others; make the journey itself a mindful practice.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: pilgrimage-route
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.36.23 (fortune of attaining tīrtha at death); Garuda Purana 2.36.25 (purification by tīrtha; warning against sin there)
FAQs
This verse says that setting out from home toward a tīrtha at the approach of death grants pilgrimage-merit, emphasizing sincere movement toward sacredness even in one’s final phase.
It states that each step taken toward a tīrtha is credited like performing go-dāna repeatedly, portraying the journey itself as a continuous act of religious merit.
Make end-of-life actions dharmic: move toward prayer, sacred remembrance, and charity, but ensure ahimsa—do not create harm to people, animals, or others while pursuing religious acts.