Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 87
Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna
Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings
न तत्प्राप्य प्रदत्तं हि याचकेभ्यः स्वकं धनम् / पराधीनं तदभवदिति ब्रूते (रौति) सगद्गदः
na tatprāpya pradattaṃ hi yācakebhyaḥ svakaṃ dhanam / parādhīnaṃ tadabhavaditi brūte (rauti) sagadgadaḥ
وہ (پُنْیَ/سہارا) نہ پا کر نوحہ کرتا ہے—“میں نے سائلوں کو اپنا مال نہیں دیا؛ اب وہی مال دوسروں کے قبضے میں چلا گیا ہے۔” یہ کہہ کر گدگدائے ہوئے گلے سے روتا ہے۔
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in Preta Kanda context)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Wealth hoarded and not given in charity becomes useless to the soul and inevitably passes under others’ control.
Vedantic Theme: Anityatā of artha (impermanence of possessions) and the necessity of converting resources into puṇya through dāna.
Application: Practice timely generosity; treat wealth as stewardship—allocate a portion for charity and sacred duties while alive.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated laments of the preta about ungiven wealth and neglected dharma (common refrain across preta-dialogues)
FAQs
This verse shows the post-death regret of one who failed to give wealth to supplicants; after death, wealth passes under others’ control, while the missed opportunity for merit remains a cause of suffering and lamentation.
It depicts a departed being (preta-context) mentally replaying neglected duties—especially charity—expressing grief and helplessness because worldly possessions no longer remain under one’s agency.
Practice timely charity and righteous giving while alive—especially to genuine need—so wealth becomes a means of dharma and merit rather than a source of regret when it inevitably leaves one’s control.