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Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

स्वस्थानाच्चलितश्चासौ विकलस्य पितुस्तदा / पुत्रैर्यत्नेन कर्तव्या पितरं तारयन्ति ते

Transliteration

svasthānāccalitaścāsau vikalasya pitustadā / putrairyatnena kartavyā pitaraṃ tārayanti te

Translation

తండ్రి తన స్వస్థానము నుండి చలించి అశక్తుడైనప్పుడు, కుమారులు శ్రద్ధతో విధి‑కర్మలను చేయాలి; ఆ ప్రయత్నాలతోనే వారు తండ్రిని తరింపజేస్తారు।

Word by Word
स्वस्थानात्from his own place
स्वस्थानात्:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootस्व + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (स्वं स्थानम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन
चलितःmoved/displaced
चलितः:
Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootचल् (धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (असौ)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (निपात)
Formअव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)
असौthat (person)
असौ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
विकलस्यof the helpless/afflicted
विकलस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootविकल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पितुः)
पितुःof the father
पितुः:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
तदाthen
तदा:
Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)
पुत्रैःby the sons
पुत्रैः:
Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
यत्नेनwith effort
यत्नेन:
Karana (Means/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
कर्तव्याto be done/should be done
कर्तव्या:
Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
TypeAdjective
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formतव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः)
पितरम्father
पितरम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
तारयन्तिthey save/deliver
तारयन्ति:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootतॄ (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-भावार्थक (to cause to cross/save)
तेthey
ते:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the father’s helpless transitional period (pre/post-death liminality implied).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual effort by sons has real efficacy (‘tārayanti’) in securing the father’s welfare during transition; negligence risks harm.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and saṃskāra as instruments within vyavahāra; compassionate action as sattva-enhancing.

Application: Do not delay required rites and supports; organize roles among siblings, consult competent ritual guidance, and act with unity and steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: threshold state (from svāsthāna)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.30.22 (antyeṣṭi superiority); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.30.19-20 (context of dāna and praise of the son)

Characters & Entities
P
Pitris
P
Pretas

FAQs

This verse states that when the father is helpless and displaced from his proper condition after death, the sons’ diligent performance of prescribed rites becomes a means of his deliverance.

It implies an interim vulnerable condition (preta-like helplessness) in which the departed depends on the living family’s dharmic actions to gain support and onward passage.

Fulfill family duties with sincerity—perform śrāddha/pinda-dāna as per tradition and live responsibly, recognizing that ethical and ritual obligations are presented as supports for the departed.

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