Shloka 20

Moksha and Svarga through Dāna, Tīrtha, Nāma-smaraṇa, and Bhāva

Devanagari script

जीवितं मरणञ्चैव द्वयं शिक्षेत पण्डितः / जीवितं दानभोगाभ्यां मरणं रणतीर्थयोः

Transliteration

jīvitaṃ maraṇañcaiva dvayaṃ śikṣeta paṇḍitaḥ / jīvitaṃ dānabhogābhyāṃ maraṇaṃ raṇatīrthayoḥ

Translation

دانش مند کو دو باتیں سیکھنی چاہئیں—جینا اور مرنا۔ جینا دان اور دھرم کے مطابق بھوگ سے سَفَل ہوتا ہے، اور مرنا رَن بھومی یا تیرتھ میں ہو تو مَرن بھی شریشٹھ بنتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; abstract noun

• मरणम्: death
• मरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; abstract noun

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• द्वयम्: the pair (twofold)
• द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; collective 'pair'

• शिक्षेत: should learn
• शिक्षेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शिक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'should learn/should be trained'

• पण्डितः: a wise man/scholar
• पण्डितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• दानभोगाभ्याम्: by giving and enjoyment
• दानभोगाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया (3), द्विवचन; instrumental 'by/through'

• मरणम्: death
• मरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• रणतीर्थयोः: in the battlefield and at a sacred ford/place of pilgrimage
• रणतीर्थयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रणस्य तीर्थम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), द्विवचन; locative 'in/at'

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Two trainings: live well through dāna and dharmic enjoyment; die well through vīra-maraṇa or tīrtha-maraṇa (idealized ends).

Vedantic Theme: Mṛtyu-smṛti as a discipline; harmonizing pravṛtti (engaged life: dāna/bhoga) with a prepared exit that supports higher destiny.

Application: Balance earning and enjoyment with generosity; keep death-awareness to prioritize values; cultivate a ‘good death’ plan—pilgrimage/holy remembrance, ethical closure, and fear-reduction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: battlefield / pilgrimage ford

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: teachings on mṛtyu-smaraṇa, dāna, and tīrtha-mahātmyas; Garuda Purana: contrasts of svarga (finite) and mokṣa (supreme) in nearby discourse

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of learning both life and death in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dharmic training as twofold: live by dāna (charity) and proper bhoga (rightful enjoyment), and aim for a death regarded as auspicious or valorous—so one’s life and end both align with Dharma.

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

By emphasizing a dharmic life (charity and disciplined enjoyment), the verse implies a lighter karmic burden at death; and by praising death in battle or at a tīrtha, it points to culturally “meritorious” conditions believed to support a favorable post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice regular charity, enjoy possessions ethically without harm, and prepare for death through spiritual discipline (pilgrimage, remembrance of Dharma, and mindful end-of-life choices), rather than living carelessly and fearing death unprepared.