Shloka 18

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

पापानि भस्मसात्कृत्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते / अमृतं तु गवां क्षीरं यतः पतगसत्तम्

Transliteration

pāpāni bhasmasātkṛtvā svargaloke mahīyate / amṛtaṃ tu gavāṃ kṣīraṃ yataḥ patagasattam

Translation

گناہوں کو راکھ کر کے وہ سَورگ لوک میں معزز ہوتا ہے۔ اے پتگ سَتّم (گرُڑ)، کیونکہ گایوں کا دودھ حقیقتاً امرت کے مانند ہے۔

Word by Word

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neut., Acc., Pl.)

• भस्मसात्: to ashes; into ash
• भस्मसात्: Karma-pravacaniya/Upapada (Resultative/उपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhasmasāt (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय, परिणाम/अवस्थावाचक (indeclinable: ‘to ashes’, ‘into ash-state’)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• स्वर्गलोके: in heaven-world
• स्वर्गलोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga-loka (प्रातिपदिक: svarga + loka)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वर्गस्य लोकः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masc., Loc., Sg.)

• महीयते: is honored; is glorified
• महीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mah (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (Present, 3rd, Sg., Ātmanepada: ‘is honored/glorified’)

• अमृतम्: nectar; ambrosia
• अमृतम्: Samanaadhikarana (Predicate noun/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neut., Nom/Acc, Sg.)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (गो-शब्दः), षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Gen., Pl.)

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: Samanaadhikarana (Predicate noun/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neut., Nom/Acc, Sg.)

• यतः: because; from which
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatas (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-निपात)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ (indeclinable: ‘because/from which’)

• पतगसत्तम: O best of birds
• पतगसत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pataga-sattama (प्रातिपदिक: pataga + sattama)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पतगानां सत्तमः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Masc., Voc., Sg.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pāpa can be ‘burned’ (bhāsma-sāt) through meritorious acts; resulting puṇya yields honor in Svarga; cow’s milk is praised as amṛta-like, implying sanctity of go-sevā/go-dāna.

Vedantic Theme: Karmaphala doctrine: purification and ascent through puṇya; also hints at sattva-enhancing purity associated with go-dravya.

Application: Cultivate purifying, sattvic conduct—charity, service, restraint; honor life-sustaining gifts and avoid harm to cows and dependents.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections praising go-dāna and puṇya leading to svarga (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the importance of cow-related offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates cow’s milk as “amṛta-like,” indicating it as a highly purifying, merit-producing substance whose righteous use (especially in sacred context) supports pāpa-kṣaya and auspicious post-death outcomes.

How does this verse explain the link between sin-destruction and the soul’s destiny?

It states that when sins are ‘burned to ashes’ (complete purification), the being is honored in Svarga—showing a direct karmic connection between purification of pāpa and elevated post-mortem experience.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate purity through ethical living and sattvic conduct, and treat sacred resources (like milk) with reverence—using them in worship/charity responsibly—aiming at inner purification rather than mere display.