Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

यच्चानु मोदते पुत्रस्तच्च दानमनन्तकम् / अतो दद्यात् स पुत्रो वा यावज्जीवत्ससौ चिरम् / अतिवाहस्तथा प्रेतो भोगांश्च लभते यतः

Transliteration

yaccānu modate putrastacca dānamanantakam / ato dadyāt sa putro vā yāvajjīvatsasau ciram / ativāhastathā preto bhogāṃśca labhate yataḥ

Translation

ทานใดที่บุตรยินดีอนุโมทนา ทานนั้นเป็นทานอันไม่สิ้นสุด (อักษยะ). เพราะฉะนั้น เมื่อบุตรยังมีอายุยืน บิดาหรือบุตรพึงให้ทาน; ด้วยบุญนั้น ผู้ตายในสภาพอาติวาหิกะย่อมได้รับโภคสมบัติ.

Word by Word

• yat: that which
• yat: Sambandha (Relative pronoun/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्; यत्-शब्दः

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• anu: after; in approval
• anu: Preverb/Upasarga function (उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपसर्गवत् क्रियायोगे (with verb); ‘अनु’

• modate: rejoices; approves
• modate: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mud (मुद्) उपसर्गः ‘अनु’
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• putraḥ: the son
• putraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• tat: that
• tat: Anuvada/Correlative (तद्-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्; तद्-शब्दः

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dānam: gift; charity
• dānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• anantakam: endless; unending
• anantakam: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anantaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; दानम् इति विशेष्ये

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Logical connector (हेतु/तस्मात्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/तस्मात्-अर्थे अव्ययम् (therefore)

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriya (Injunctive/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• putraḥ: (as) a son
• putraḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• vā: or
• vā: Disjunction (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Temporal limit (अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/सम्बन्ध)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधिपर्यन्ते (up to the limit)

• jīvat: living
• jīvat: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīvat (कृदन्त; √jīv जीव्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• asau: that person
• asau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; अदस्-शब्दः

• ciram: for a long time
• ciram: Adverbial modifier (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cira (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘दीर्घकालम्’

• ativāhaḥ: Ativāha (a post-death subtle carrier/body)
• ativāhaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ativāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• tathā: thus; likewise
• tathā: Adverbial modifier
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; ‘एवम्/तद्वत्’

• pretaḥ: the departed spirit (preta)
• pretaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• bhogān: enjoyments
• bhogān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• labhate: obtains
• labhate: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (लभ्)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• yataḥ: because; from which
• yataḥ: Cause marker (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ अव्ययम् (because/whence)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anumodana (heir/son’s approval) stabilizes and amplifies dāna-phala, making it ‘anantaka’; merit supports the ātivāhika/preta in transit.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of karma across relational networks (saṃbandha) without denying individual agency; dharma of lineage as a means to orderly gati.

Application: Coordinate charitable acts within the family; obtain clear consent/approval from heirs to avoid dispute and to strengthen the intended religious/ethical purpose.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: ātivāhika/preta descriptions and the role of offerings/merit in providing bhoga during transit

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Putra (son)

FAQs

What is the importance of anumodana (a son’s consent) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse states that a gift approved and supported by the son becomes “anantaka” (inexhaustible), strengthening the merit dedicated to the departed.

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

It indicates that the preta, in its carried-along subtle transit state (ativāha), receives ‘bhoga’ (experiences/comforts) through the merit generated by proper dāna connected with family participation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha-related charity with family unity and conscious assent—supporting elders in dhārmic giving and dedicating the merit for ancestors with sincerity.