Shloka 126
Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga
Path to Yama
उखैः काकैर्बकोलूकैस्तीक्ष्णतुण्डैर्वितुद्यते / मनुजानां हितं दानमन्ते वैतरणी खग
ukhaiḥ kākairbakolūkaistīkṣṇatuṇḍairvitudyate / manujānāṃ hitaṃ dānamante vaitaraṇī khaga
เขาถูกอีกา นกยาง และนกฮูกที่มีจะงอยปากแหลมจิกฉีกเป็นแผล โอ้ท่านวิหค (ครุฑ)! สำหรับมนุษย์ ในกาลสุดท้าย—ยามข้ามไวตระณี—ทานย่อมเป็นประโยชน์แท้จริง
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Charity is ‘hita’ (true benefit) at life’s end; neglect leads to painful karmic experiences symbolized by violent birds.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma as preparatory purification; compassionate action reduces fear and suffering in saṃsāra’s transitions.
Application: Practice daana regularly; cultivate compassion toward living beings (including birds/animals) to counteract cruelty and stinginess.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: riverbank/torment zone
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated emphasis that daana supports the preta at crossings and in Yama’s realm; Adjacent Vaitaraṇī verses (2.5.123–125) forming a single narrative unit
FAQs
This verse states that dāna becomes a direct aid to the deceased at the end of life, especially at the fearful passage associated with the Vaitaraṇī, implying charity functions as spiritual support when the soul faces post-death hardships.
It depicts the preta encountering torment (being pecked by sharp-beaked birds) and then points to the decisive threshold of the Vaitaraṇī; the teaching emphasizes that righteous acts like dāna are practical protections during this journey toward Yama’s domain.
Practice regular charity and support dharmic causes with a sincere intention; in Garuda Purana’s framing, such dāna is not only ethical in life but also considered a safeguard for one’s post-death passage.