Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

शय्यादानप्रभावेण प्रेतो मुच्यते बन्धनात् / अपिः पापसमायुक्तः स्वर्गलोकं स गच्छति

Transliteration

śayyādānaprabhāveṇa preto mucyate bandhanāt / apiḥ pāpasamāyuktaḥ svargalokaṃ sa gacchati

Translation

ด้วยอานิสงส์แห่งการถวายทานเตียง (ศัยยา-ทาน) ดวงวิญญาณเปรตย่อมพ้นจากพันธนาการ; แม้มีบาปติดอยู่ก็ยังไปถึงสวรรค์โลกได้.

Word by Word

• śayyā-dāna-prabhāveṇa: by the power/effect of giving a bed
• śayyā-dāna-prabhāveṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayyā (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; hetau karaṇe (instrumental of cause/means)

• pretaḥ: the departed spirit (preta)
• pretaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• mucyate: is released
• mucyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (मुच् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana; ātmanepada, karmaṇi-prayoga (passive)

• bandhanāt: from bondage
• bandhanāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Pañcamī (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; apādāna (ablative of separation)

• api: even/although
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta (particle) = 'even/although'

• pāpa-samāyuktaḥ: associated with sin
• pāpa-samāyuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + samāyukta (कृदन्त; √yuj युज् + sam-ā, past passive participle)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'pretaḥ/saḥ'

• svarga-lokam: to the heavenly world
• svarga-lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; gati-kriyāyāṃ karma (object of motion)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; sarvanāma

• gacchati: goes
• gacchati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śayyā-dāna (gift of a bed) generates merit that loosens preta-bandhana and can elevate even a sinful departed to svarga.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and purification (citta-śuddhi) as preparatory to higher good; compassion expressed as dāna transforms destiny.

Application: Perform prescribed funeral charities (especially śayyā-dāna) with faith and correct intention to support the departed and reduce fear of adverse afterlife outcomes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: loka (heavenly realm)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: dāna-mahātmyas connected to preta-mukti and svarga-prāpti (adjacent verses 2.34.89–92)

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Svarga

FAQs

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

This verse states that śayyā-dāna (donating a bed) has strong merit that can free a preta from bondage and support its onward ascent.

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

It presents the preta-state as one of constraint (bandhana) and teaches that post-death rites and gifts (dāna) can loosen that condition, enabling movement toward svarga.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charity in connection with śrāddha/antyeṣṭi observances—especially purposeful, need-based giving—while also living ethically so that merit supports both oneself and one’s ancestors.