Shloka 23
Dāna for the Preta: Supreme Gifts, Yama’s Pacification, and Viṣṇu-Smaraṇa at the Time of Death
धर्मात्मा स नु पुत्रो वैदेवैरपि सुपूज्यते / दापयेद्यस्तु दानानि ह्यातुरं पितरं भुवि
dharmātmā sa nu putro vaidevairapi supūjyate / dāpayedyastu dānāni hyāturaṃ pitaraṃ bhuvi
భూమిపై జీవించి ఉన్న రోగగ్రస్త తండ్రి కోసం దానాలను చేయించేవాడు ఏ కుమారుడో, అతడే ధర్మాత్ముడు; దేవతలచేత కూడా సుపూజితుడు।
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda)
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: While the father is alive but ill (āturaḥ… bhuvi).
Concept: Serving and supporting an ailing father through prescribed dānas while he is alive is a mark of dharmic sonship, worthy of divine honor.
Vedantic Theme: Sevā as sattva-śuddhi; honoring parents as a concrete expression of dharma that supports inner peace and spiritual readiness.
Application: Combine caregiving with ethical generosity—support medical needs, provide food/comfort, and give charity in the parent’s name with integrity.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: household (while father lives)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.30.19-22 (same instructional sequence on son’s duties, dāna, and antyeṣṭi)
FAQs
This verse highlights dana as a core dharmic act that generates merit and earns divine honor, especially when performed out of duty and compassion toward one’s living parents.
In the Preta Kanda context, it stresses timely merit-making: arranging charitable gifts before death—while the parent is still alive—so that spiritual benefit is secured through conscious, dharmic action.
Support and care for parents in illness, and practice meaningful charity in their name during their lifetime—prioritizing ethical giving, service, and responsibility over last-minute rituals alone.