Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 88

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

शय्यादानप्रभावेण प्रेतो मुच्यते बन्धनात् / अपिः पापसमायुक्तः स्वर्गलोकं स गच्छति

Transliteration

śayyādānaprabhāveṇa preto mucyate bandhanāt / apiḥ pāpasamāyuktaḥ svargalokaṃ sa gacchati

Translation

شَیّا دان کے اثر سے پریت بندھن سے آزاد ہو جاتا ہے؛ گناہوں سے بوجھل ہو تب بھی وہ سَورگ لوک کو پہنچتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• śayyā-dāna-prabhāveṇa: by the power/effect of giving a bed
• śayyā-dāna-prabhāveṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayyā (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; hetau karaṇe (instrumental of cause/means)

• pretaḥ: the departed spirit (preta)
• pretaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• mucyate: is released
• mucyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (मुच् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana; ātmanepada, karmaṇi-prayoga (passive)

• bandhanāt: from bondage
• bandhanāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Pañcamī (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; apādāna (ablative of separation)

• api: even/although
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta (particle) = 'even/although'

• pāpa-samāyuktaḥ: associated with sin
• pāpa-samāyuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + samāyukta (कृदन्त; √yuj युज् + sam-ā, past passive participle)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'pretaḥ/saḥ'

• svarga-lokam: to the heavenly world
• svarga-lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; gati-kriyāyāṃ karma (object of motion)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; sarvanāma

• gacchati: goes
• gacchati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śayyā-dāna (gift of a bed) generates merit that loosens preta-bandhana and can elevate even a sinful departed to svarga.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and purification (citta-śuddhi) as preparatory to higher good; compassion expressed as dāna transforms destiny.

Application: Perform prescribed funeral charities (especially śayyā-dāna) with faith and correct intention to support the departed and reduce fear of adverse afterlife outcomes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: loka (heavenly realm)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: dāna-mahātmyas connected to preta-mukti and svarga-prāpti (adjacent verses 2.34.89–92)

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the importance of śayyā-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that śayyā-dāna (donating a bed) has strong merit that can free a preta from bondage and support its onward ascent.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It presents the preta-state as one of constraint (bandhana) and teaches that post-death rites and gifts (dāna) can loosen that condition, enabling movement toward svarga.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charity in connection with śrāddha/antyeṣṭi observances—especially purposeful, need-based giving—while also living ethically so that merit supports both oneself and one’s ancestors.