Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

धर्माधर्मे मतिं दद्यां कर्मभिस्तु शुभाशुभैः / यत् कर्म क्रियते क्वापि पूर्वजन्मार्जितं खग

Transliteration

dharmādharme matiṃ dadyāṃ karmabhistu śubhāśubhaiḥ / yat karma kriyate kvāpi pūrvajanmārjitaṃ khaga

Translation

శుభాశుభ కర్మముల వలన మనస్సు ధర్మమో అధర్మమో వైపు వాలుతుంది. ఓ ఖగ (గరుడా), ఎక్కడ ఏ కర్మ చేసినా అది నిజముగా పూర్వజన్మలో సంపాదితమైన సంస్కారాల ఫలమే.

Word by Word

• धर्मे: in dharma (righteousness)
• धर्मे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative singular)

• अधर्मे: in adharma (unrighteousness)
• अधर्मे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative singular)

• मतिम्: understanding, inclination
• मतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative singular)

• दद्याम्: may give
• दद्याम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); उत्तमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (I may give)

• कर्मभिः: by actions
• कर्मभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; बहुवचनम्; तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental plural)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्ययम् (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• शुभाशुभैः: by good and bad (deeds)
• शुभाशुभैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक-द्वन्द्व)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः; नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; बहुवचनम्; तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instr. plural); कर्मभिः इति विशेषणम्

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom./Acc. singular)

• कर्म: action, deed
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom./Acc. singular)

• क्रियते: is done
• क्रियते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (is done)

• क्वापि: anywhere, at any time
• क्वापि: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-समुच्चयः; अव्ययम् (adverb: 'anywhere/ever')

• पूर्वजन्मार्जितम्: acquired in a previous birth
• पूर्वजन्मार्जितम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व + जन्मन् + अर्जित (अर्ज्/अर्ज् धातु + क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (पूर्वजन्मनि अर्जितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom./Acc. singular); कर्म इति विशेषणम्

• खग: O bird (Garuda)
• खग: Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्; एकवचनम्; सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karmic saṃskāras shape buddhi/mati toward dharma or adharma; present actions are conditioned by prior-life accumulations.

Vedantic Theme: Causal continuity of saṃskāra and vāsanā; interplay of puruṣakāra (effort) with prārabdha/sañcita tendencies (framed theistically in adjacent verses).

Application: Track recurring impulses; counter unwholesome vāsanās through deliberate practice (sat-saṅga, vows, japa, ethical routines) and reinforce dharmic habits.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.30.47 (divine governance of inclination; liberation through dharma); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa sections on karma leading to post-mortem outcomes (general internal linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of karma from previous births in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that present actions and moral inclinations arise from śubha and aśubha karmas accumulated earlier, highlighting continuity of cause and effect across births.

How does this verse explain why people choose dharma or adharma?

It explains that the mind is directed toward dharma or adharma by the imprint of prior meritorious or sinful deeds, which condition one’s tendencies and choices.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat habits and impulses as changeable karmic conditioning: consciously cultivate dharma through repeated good actions, restraint, and ethical discipline to reshape future tendencies.