Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

भोजनासनदानेन सुखं मार्गे भुनक्ति वै / प्रदेशे निर्जले दाता सुखी स्याद्वै कमण्डलोः

Transliteration

bhojanāsanadānena sukhaṃ mārge bhunakti vai / pradeśe nirjale dātā sukhī syādvai kamaṇḍaloḥ

Translation

کھانے اور نشست (آسن) کے دان سے مسافر راستے میں یقیناً آرام پاتا ہے۔ اور بے آب علاقے میں کمندلو (آب دان) کا دان کرنے والا داتا بے شک خوش و خرم ہوتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• भोजनासनदानेन: by the gift of food and seat
• भोजनासनदानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन + आसन + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण-कारक (instrumental)

• सुखम्: happiness, comfort
• सुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म-कारक

• मार्गे: on the road, on the way
• मार्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण-कारक

• भुनक्ति: enjoys, experiences
• भुनक्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (Nipata)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphatic)

• प्रदेशे: in a region/place
• प्रदेशे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण-कारक

• निर्जले: waterless, without water
• निर्जले: Adhikarana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण (प्रदेशे)

• दाता: the giver, donor
• दाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ-कारक

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (दाता)

• स्यात्: would be, may become
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (Nipata)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphatic)

• कमण्डलोः: of a water-pot (kamaṇḍalu)
• कमण्डलोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anna-āsana-jala-dāna as practical compassion that becomes merit and future comfort.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as ethical causality; sattvika-dāna purifies intention and supports dharmic order.

Application: Support travelers and the vulnerable: food, seating/rest, and potable water (or water vessels) in heat/scarcity; institutionalize via water stations, shelters, community kitchens.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: desert/routeway

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: dāna-phala sections listing gifts (anna, vastra, jala, shayya) as protections on the post-mortem path

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of donating food and a seat in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the merit of giving food and a place to sit translates into comfort experienced “on the path,” implying relief during difficult passages associated with the post-death journey.

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

It frames the post-death passage as a demanding “journey” where specific charities (food, rest, and especially water provisions) become subtle supports, turning hardship into ease through earned merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Offer food, seating/rest, and drinking water to travelers, guests, and the needy—especially in hot or water-scarce places—dedicating the act as dharmic charity and remembrance for the departed.