Shloka 12

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सर्वं प्रकुर्वीत चञ्चले जीविते सति / गृहीतदानपाथेयः सुखं याति महाध्वनि

Transliteration

tasmātsarvaṃ prakurvīta cañcale jīvite sati / gṛhītadānapātheyaḥ sukhaṃ yāti mahādhvani

Translation

ฉะนั้นเมื่อชีวิตยังมีและไม่แน่นอน พึงเร่งกระทำธรรมกิจทั้งปวงให้สำเร็จ ผู้มีทานเป็นเสบียงเดินทาง ย่อมไปอย่างผาสุกในมหาหนทาง।

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Cause/Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी एकवचनम्; हेतौ (Ablative singular; 'therefore/from that')

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Accusative singular, neuter)

• प्रकुर्वीत: should do/should perform
• प्रकुर्वीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (लिङ्-लकारः), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् (Optative, 3rd sg)

• चञ्चले: in (something) fickle
• चञ्चले: Adhikarana (Location/Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चञ्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Locative singular, neuter)

• जीविते: in life
• जीविते: Adhikarana (Location/Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (Locative singular, neuter)

• सति: while it exists/when (it) is
• सति: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्; सति-सप्तमी (present participle; locative sg; locative absolute)

• गृहीतदानपाथेयः: one who has taken charity as provisions
• गृहीतदानपाथेयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहीत (ग्रह् धातु + क्त) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + पाथेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दानस्य पाथेयम्) तथा पूर्वपदं कृदन्तम् (गृहीतम्) (Nominative singular, masculine; 'having taken the provision of charity')

• सुखम्: happily/with ease
• सुखम्: Karma (Manner/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (Accusative singular, neuter; adverbial)

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् (Present indicative, 3rd sg)

• महाध्वनि: on the great road (journey)
• महाध्वनि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (महान् अध्वा) (Locative singular, masculine)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Because life is unstable, complete dharmic duties now; charity functions as travel-provision for the post-mortem journey, bringing ease.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya (impermanence) prompting pravṛtti toward dharma; karma bears fruit beyond death; preparedness for saṃsāra’s transitions.

Application: Do not postpone dharmic acts (dāna, duties, rites); create a consistent habit of giving as ‘preparedness’ for uncertainty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: liminal journey-path (metaphor)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated ‘path/provisions’ metaphor for the preta’s journey and the role of dāna; Adjacent verses 2.14.13–14 elaborate the same travel-provision logic

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta (implied)
• Yama (contextually implied)
• Pitris (contextually relevant)

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames charity as pātheya—spiritual travel-provision—making the post-death journey easier and more auspicious.

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

It depicts death as a “great journey” (mahādhvani) and teaches that dharmic actions—especially charity—support the jīva as it proceeds on that path.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with urgency about dharma: give regularly, fulfill duties, and cultivate generosity now rather than postponing spiritual preparation.