Shloka 29

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

आत्मायत्तं धनं यावत् तावद्विप्रे समर्पयेत् / पराधीनं मृते सर्वं कृपया कः प्रदास्यति

Transliteration

ātmāyattaṃ dhanaṃ yāvat tāvadvipre samarpayet / parādhīnaṃ mṛte sarvaṃ kṛpayā kaḥ pradāsyati

Translation

ตราบใดที่ทรัพย์ยังอยู่ในอำนาจตน พึงมอบถวายแก่พราหมณ์; เพราะเมื่อสิ้นชีวิตแล้ว ทุกสิ่งย่อมอยู่ใต้อำนาจผู้อื่น—แล้วใครเล่าจะให้ทานด้วยเมตตา?

Word by Word

• ātmāyattam: dependent on self (under one's control)
• ātmāyattam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātmāyatta (आत्मायत्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dhanam: wealth
• dhanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (धन)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Avyaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (यावत्)
• Form: Correlative Adverb

• tāvat: so long
• tāvat: Avyaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (तावत्)
• Form: Correlative Adverb

• vipre: to/in a Brahmin
• vipre: Adhikarana/Sampradana context
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (विप्र)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• samarpayet: should offer/entrust
• samarpayet: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ṛ (सम्-ऋ)
• Form: Vidhilin (Potential/Optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; Causative

• parādhīnam: dependent on others
• parādhīnam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parādhīna (पराधीन)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• mṛte: when dead
• mṛte: Bhavalaksana (Condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛta (मृत)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (Sati Saptami)

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kṛpayā: out of kindness/compassion
• kṛpayā: Hetu (Cause/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (कृपा)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• kaḥ: who
• kaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (किम्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• pradāsyati: will give
• pradāsyati: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-dā (प्र-दा)
• Form: Lrt (Future), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Agency over wealth is temporary; therefore give to a worthy brāhmaṇa while alive, since after death one cannot direct one’s resources.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) and asakti (non-attachment) applied to artha; karma must be performed within the window of embodied agency; mṛtyu as the boundary of doership.

Application: Make charitable dispositions while alive (regular giving, endowments, wills); do not rely solely on heirs to fulfill one’s intended generosity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: householder context (wealth under one’s control)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated counsel to perform dāna and śrāddha preparations before death; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: emphasis on helplessness after death and dependence on survivors’ rites

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

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

This verse teaches that charity should be done while one is alive and in control of one’s resources; after death, wealth is controlled by others and may not be used for dharmic giving, reducing the intended spiritual merit.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, preparations for the afterlife include dharmic acts like dāna; the verse stresses acting before death so that merit and supportive rites are not left to chance or others’ decisions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Plan and practice regular, intentional giving (especially to genuine learning and service) while alive, rather than postponing generosity to wills or last-minute arrangements.