Shloka 86

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

पुरन्दरगृहे सर्वं सूर्यपुत्रालये तथा / उपतिष्ठेत् सुखं जन्तोः शय्यादानप्रभावतः

Transliteration

purandaragṛhe sarvaṃ sūryaputrālaye tathā / upatiṣṭhet sukhaṃ jantoḥ śayyādānaprabhāvataḥ

Translation

శయ్యాదాన ప్రభావంతో జీవునికి సమస్త సుఖాలు సులభంగా లభిస్తాయి—పురందరుడు (ఇంద్రుడు) నివాసంలోనూ, సూర్యపుత్రుడు (యముడు) ఆలయంలోనూ అలాగే।

Word by Word

• purandara-gṛhe: in Purandara’s (Indra’s) abode
• purandara-gṛhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purandara (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (genitive relation: ‘in Indra’s house’), Napuṃsaka, Saptamī, Eka-vacana

• sarvam: fully/entirely
• sarvam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; used adverbially ‘entirely/fully’

• sūrya-putra-ālaye: in the abode of Yama
• sūrya-putra-ālaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (determinative: ‘abode of the Sun’s son’ i.e., Yama), Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Eka-vacana

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकाराव्यय): ‘thus/also’

• upatiṣṭhet: should be present/attend
• upatiṣṭhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√sthā (धा॒तु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana

• sukham: comfortably; happiness
• sukham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (Accusative) used adverbially

• jantoḥ: of the being (departed soul)
• jantoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jantu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Eka-vacana

• śayyā-dāna-prabhāvataḥ: because of the efficacy of gifting a bed
• śayyā-dāna-prabhāvataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayyā (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (cause/means: ‘due to the power of bed-gift’), Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī (Ablative/पञ्चमी), Eka-vacana

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed as śayyā-dāna within post-death rites (contextual)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific dāna generates specific phala: donating a bed yields comfort for the jīva across afterlife stations, including Indra’s realm and Yama’s domain.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s precise fruition across lokas; embodied experience continues under law until liberation.

Application: Undertake compassionate giving (beds, shelter, comfort-items) in memory of the departed, understanding it as a dharmic act believed to translate into ‘comfort’ in transitional states.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial palace / yamaloka court

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.87: immunity from Yama’s servants and from heat/cold as further fruit of śayyā-dāna

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Purandara)
• Yama (Suryaputra)

FAQs

What is the importance of śayyā-dāna (donating a bed) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the merit of donating a bed yields comfort and ready assistance for the jīva, even in exalted realms like Indra’s abode and in Yama’s domain, implying relief and support in the post-death condition.

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

Within the Preta Kanda context, the soul’s post-death experience is shaped by karma and dāna; here, śayyā-dāna specifically is said to manifest “sukha” (ease/comfort) and supportive conditions across the afterlife journey and jurisdictions, including Yama’s realm.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice purposeful charity by supporting rest and shelter—donating beds, bedding, or funding hospices/shelters—while cultivating compassion; the text frames such dāna as a karma that yields comfort and protection beyond this life.