Shloka 33

Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite

Devanagari script

धर्मराजञ्च सर्वेशं वैतरण्याख्यधेनुकाम् / सर्वं प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्

Transliteration

dharmarājañca sarveśaṃ vaitaraṇyākhyadhenukām / sarvaṃ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya brāhmaṇāya nivedayet

Translation

ధర్మరాజు సర్వేశ్వరుని మరియు ‘వైతరణీ’ అనే ధేనుదానాన్ని పూజించి, సమస్తాన్ని ప్రదక్షిణ చేసి, అనంతరం బ్రాహ్మణునికి విధివిధానంగా నివేదించాలి.

Word by Word

• धर्मराजम्: Dharmaraja (Yama)
• धर्मराजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + राजन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य राजा)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वेशम्: the Lord of all
• सर्वेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वेश (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषाम् ईशः)

• वैतरणी-आख्या-धेनुकाम्: the cow-figure named ‘Vaitaraṇī’
• वैतरणी-आख्या-धेनुकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैतरणी (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनुका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (वैतरणी-आख्या) कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भावः ‘वैतरणी इति आख्या’ + तत्पुरुषः ‘वैतरण्याख्या धेनुका’

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-शब्दः

• प्रदक्षिणी-कृत्य: having circumambulated
• प्रदक्षिणी-कृत्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दक्षिणी + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (gerund/absolutive); धातुः √कृ (करणे)

• ब्राह्मणाय: to a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• निवेदयेत्: should offer/present
• निवेदयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + विद् (धातु) / निवेदय (णिजन्त-धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातुः √विद् (ज्ञाने) → णिजन्त ‘निवेदयति’ = ‘समर्पयति’

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During preta-related śrāddha sequence (as prescribed in this context) before/alongside subsequent śrāddha stages.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness (vidhi)—honoring Dharmarāja and offering Vaitaraṇī-dhenu to a brāhmaṇa—supports the departed and upholds cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as expression of ṛta; karma-kāṇḍa as preparatory support that reduces fear and purifies intention.

Application: When performing śrāddha-related dāna, follow procedure: invoke/acknowledge dharma, circumambulate with reverence, and offer to a qualified recipient.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual arena (gṛha/śrāddha-sthāna) with invoked cosmic authority

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.47: procedural steps for Vaitaraṇī-dhenu dāna; Garuda Purana: śrāddha-vidhi sections emphasizing pradakṣiṇā and formal nivedana

Characters & Entities

• Dharmaraja (Yama)
• Brahmana

FAQs

What is the importance of Vaitaraṇī-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Vaitaraṇī-dāna as a formal, complete rite—honoring Dharmarāja and then gifting the Vaitaraṇī cow—intended to support the departed in the after-death passage associated with the Vaitaraṇī.

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

By linking the rite to Dharmarāja (Yama) and the Vaitaraṇī cow-gift, the verse points to the soul’s post-death jurisdiction under Yama and the need for prescribed donations that symbolically aid safe passage through fearsome transitional stages.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha-related donations with clarity and completeness—respectful circumambulation, proper intention, and giving to a qualified Brāhmaṇa—while treating charity and dharma as support for both the departed and the living.