Shloka 32

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

विष्णुदेहसमुद्भूतो यतो ऽयं लवणो रसः / एतत्सलवणं दानं तेन शंसन्ति योगिनः

Transliteration

viṣṇudehasamudbhūto yato 'yaṃ lavaṇo rasaḥ / etatsalavaṇaṃ dānaṃ tena śaṃsanti yoginaḥ

Translation

ఈ లవణరసం విష్ణుదేహమునుండి ఉద్భవించిందని చెప్పబడుటవలన, యోగులు లవణంతో కూడిన అన్నదానాన్ని (సలవణ దానం) ప్రశంసిస్తారు.

Word by Word

• विष्णुदेहसमुद्भूतः: arisen from Viṣṇu’s body
• विष्णुदेहसमुद्भूतः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु + देह + समुद्भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक); समुद्भूत = सम् + उद् + भू (धातु) + क्त
• Form: समास (तत्पुरुष; विष्णोः देहात् समुद्भूतः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) विशेषण

• यतः: since/from which
• यतः: Sambandha (Causal link/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक अव्यय (relative adverb: ‘since/wherefrom’); मूलतः यद्-प्रातिपदिकात्

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लवणः: salt
• लवणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रसः: taste/essence
• रसः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सलवणम्: with salt
• सलवणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/उपपदसमास (सहितं लवणेन = ‘with salt’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दानम्: gift, donation
• दानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तेन: therefore/by that
• तेन: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शंसन्ति: praise, commend
• शंसन्ति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• योगिनः: yogis
• योगिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Seeing Viṣṇu as the source of sustenance; offering/gifting food with salt becomes Viṣṇu-connected dāna praised by yogins.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as upādāna-nimitta-kāraṇa (material and efficient cause) in a devotional register; sanctifying daily life by perceiving the divine in essentials.

Application: Perform sa-lavaṇa anna-dāna with remembrance of Viṣṇu; cultivate ‘īśvara-buddhi’ in ordinary acts of giving and eating.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: divine-body/cosmic-source

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.30-31 (salt-dāna merit; pitṛ-priyatā); Garuda Purana 2.2.34 (salt as svarga-dvāra)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Yogins

FAQs

What is the importance of sa-lavaṇa dāna (gift with salt) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats salt as sacred—linked to Viṣṇu—and therefore commends offering food/charity with salt as a ritually meritorious dāna in Preta-related rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly: it highlights that specific prescribed gifts (dāna) are praised in Preta-kārya, implying such offerings aid the departed during the post-death transition described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing Śrāddha or memorial charity, include simple, sattvic food offerings with salt (as appropriate to one’s tradition) and give respectfully, seeing the act as devotional service rather than mere custom.