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Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

स्वस्थानाच्चलितश्चासौ विकलस्य पितुस्तदा / पुत्रैर्यत्नेन कर्तव्या पितरं तारयन्ति ते

Transliteration

svasthānāccalitaścāsau vikalasya pitustadā / putrairyatnena kartavyā pitaraṃ tārayanti te

Translation

Kapag ang ama ay naalis sa nararapat niyang kalagayan at naging walang magawa, ang mga anak ay dapat masikap na gumanap ng mga ritwal na kinakailangan; sa pagsisikap na iyon, inililigtas nila ang kanilang ama.

Word by Word
स्वस्थानात्from his own place
स्वस्थानात्:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootस्व + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (स्वं स्थानम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन
चलितःmoved/displaced
चलितः:
Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootचल् (धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (असौ)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (निपात)
Formअव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)
असौthat (person)
असौ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
विकलस्यof the helpless/afflicted
विकलस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootविकल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पितुः)
पितुःof the father
पितुः:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
तदाthen
तदा:
Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)
पुत्रैःby the sons
पुत्रैः:
Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
यत्नेनwith effort
यत्नेन:
Karana (Means/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
कर्तव्याto be done/should be done
कर्तव्या:
Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
TypeAdjective
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formतव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः)
पितरम्father
पितरम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
तारयन्तिthey save/deliver
तारयन्ति:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootतॄ (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-भावार्थक (to cause to cross/save)
तेthey
ते:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the father’s helpless transitional period (pre/post-death liminality implied).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual effort by sons has real efficacy (‘tārayanti’) in securing the father’s welfare during transition; negligence risks harm.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and saṃskāra as instruments within vyavahāra; compassionate action as sattva-enhancing.

Application: Do not delay required rites and supports; organize roles among siblings, consult competent ritual guidance, and act with unity and steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: threshold state (from svāsthāna)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.30.22 (antyeṣṭi superiority); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.30.19-20 (context of dāna and praise of the son)

Characters & Entities
P
Pitris
P
Pretas

FAQs

This verse states that when the father is helpless and displaced from his proper condition after death, the sons’ diligent performance of prescribed rites becomes a means of his deliverance.

It implies an interim vulnerable condition (preta-like helplessness) in which the departed depends on the living family’s dharmic actions to gain support and onward passage.

Fulfill family duties with sincerity—perform śrāddha/pinda-dāna as per tradition and live responsibly, recognizing that ethical and ritual obligations are presented as supports for the departed.

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