Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 21

Akalamṛtyu-kāraṇa and Bāla Antyeṣṭi: Age-graded Funeral Rites, Śrāddha Types, and Sonship Duties

Devanagari script

भोजनानि द्विजे दद्यान्महादानादि शक्तितः / दीपदानादि यत्किञ्चित्पञ्चवर्षाधिके सदा

Transliteration

bhojanāni dvije dadyānmahādānādi śaktitaḥ / dīpadānādi yatkiñcitpañcavarṣādhike sadā

Translation

دویج (برہمن) کو بھوجن کرانا چاہیے اور اپنی استطاعت کے مطابق مہادان وغیرہ کرنے چاہییں؛ دیپ دان وغیرہ جو کچھ ممکن ہو، خاص طور پر پانچ برس گزرنے کے بعد، ہمیشہ باقاعدگی سے کرنا چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• भोजनानि: meals/food offerings
• भोजनानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• द्विजे: to a twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• द्विजे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन (द्विजाय इत्यर्थे); सम्प्रदान

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महादानादि: great gifts and the like
• महादानादि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + दान + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; 'आदि' समाहारार्थ

• शक्तितः: according to one’s capacity
• शक्तितः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = 'according to ability'

• दीपदानादि: lamp-giving and the like
• दीपदानादि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप + दान + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• किञ्चित्: anything (at all)
• किञ्चित्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; अनिश्चित (indefinite)

• पञ्चवर्षाधिके: after five years (i.e., when five years have passed)
• पञ्चवर्षाधिके: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + वर्ष + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषण (locative qualifier)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Ongoing/regular performance; ‘after five years’ suggests a longer-term śrāddha cycle/continuity beyond immediate post-death period.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Feeding brāhmaṇas and giving dāna according to capacity are integral to śrāddha; continued offerings (like dīpa-dāna) maintain merit and remembrance over time.

Vedantic Theme: Sattvika dāna and pitṛ-yajña as purifying karma; gradual refinement of mind through sustained giving and remembrance.

Application: Arrange brāhmaṇa-bhojana; perform mahā-dāna within means; keep regular dīpa-dāna/charity especially as longer-term śrāddha obligations mature (notably after five years).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dīpa-dāna praise and dāna lists in related sections; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: emphasis on brāhmaṇa-bhojana as śrāddha completion

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (Brahmana)

FAQs

What is the importance of food donation to a dvija in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes feeding a brāhmaṇa as a primary charitable act connected with post-death merit-making, supporting dharma and aiding the intended spiritual benefit of offerings made for the departed.

Why does the verse mention lamp-giving (dīpa-dāna) and doing what one can?

It highlights that even modest offerings like lamp donation carry religious value; the stress is on sincerity and regularity, performed within one’s means rather than beyond capacity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice periodic charity—feeding the needy or supporting learned practitioners—and include symbolic acts like lighting a lamp, doing these consistently and within your resources as part of remembrance and ethical living.