Shloka 42

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

ऋग्वेदपारगे दद्याज्जातसस्यां वसुन्धराम् / यजुर्वेदमये विप्रे गाञ्च दद्यात्पयस्विनीम्

Transliteration

ṛgvedapārage dadyājjātasasyāṃ vasundharām / yajurvedamaye vipre gāñca dadyātpayasvinīm

Translation

พึงถวายที่ดินอันอุดมสมบูรณ์ซึ่งมีธัญญาหารใหม่แก่พราหมณ์ผู้เชี่ยวชาญฤคเวท และพึงถวายโคให้น้ำนมแก่พราหมณ์ผู้ตั้งมั่นในยชุรเวท

Word by Word

• ऋग्वेद-पारगे: to a master of the Rigveda
• ऋग्वेद-पारगे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋग्वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; Dative singular; ‘to one who has mastered the Ṛgveda’

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• जातसस्याम्: newly-grown crop/harvest
• जातसस्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जातसस्या (प्रातिपदिक; जात + सस्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• वसुन्धराम्: land/earth (a plot of land)
• वसुन्धराम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुन्धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• यजुर्वेद-मये: to a Yajurveda-knower
• यजुर्वेद-मये: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजुर्वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; Dative singular; ‘to one versed in the Yajurveda’

• विप्रे: to the Brahmin
• विप्रे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; Dative singular; in apposition to यजुर्वेदमये

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

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

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• पयस्विनीम्: milk-yielding
• पयस्विनीम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पयस्विनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agrees with गाम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As part of śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-adjacent dāna-vidhi; performed after the main offerings as prescribed in the sequence.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Appropriate dāna to qualified recipients (pātra) according to śākhā/veda-adhyayana.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: purifying action through niṣkāma-dāna and respect for śruti.

Application: Support learned teachers/priests with context-appropriate gifts; align charity with genuine competence and community need.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.40 (dāna-vidhi and śrāddha/antyeṣṭi adjuncts)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Ṛgveda
• Yajurveda

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charitable gifting) in the Garuda Purana’s death-ritual context?

This verse frames dāna as a targeted, scripture-aligned act: gifts like fertile land and a milk-giving cow are prescribed to support qualified Vedic Brāhmaṇas, thereby generating merit intended to aid preta-śānti and śrāddha outcomes.

How does this verse relate to śrāddha and post-death rites in the Preta Kanda?

Within the Preta Kanda’s ritual instructions, it specifies appropriate recipients and gifts—land to a Ṛgveda-knower and a milk-yielding cow to a Yajurveda-knower—linking orthodox Vedic support with the ritual economy of śrāddha for the departed.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Support authentic learning and service connected to Vedic/ritual traditions—through ethical charity, funding education, or donating resources—while ensuring the gift is given respectfully to qualified recipients and without harm or coercion.