Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

ततो येनाम्बुदानानि कृतान्यत्र रसास्तथा / तदा खग तथाह्लादमापदि प्रतिपद्यते

Transliteration

tato yenāmbudānāni kṛtānyatra rasāstathā / tadā khaga tathāhlādamāpadi pratipadyate

Translation

پھر، اے پرندے گرُڑ! جس نے یہاں پانی کا دان کیا اور اسی طرح ٹھنڈے رس دار مشروبات کا دان کیا، وہ مصیبت میں ویسی ہی راحت اور تسکین پاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• ततः: therefore, then
• ततः: Hetu/Anvaya (Logical connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तदस्)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'therefore/from that')

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अम्बुदानानि: water-gifts (donations of water)
• अम्बुदानानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अम्बोः दानम्)

• कृतानि: done, performed
• कृतानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अम्बुदानानि इति विशेषणम्

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• रसाः: juices/delicacies
• रसाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'also/likewise')

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• खग: O bird
• खग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Manner (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/accordingly')

• आह्लादम्: delight, joy
• आह्लादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आपदि: in misfortune
• आपदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रतिपद्यते: attains, obtains
• प्रतिपद्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पद् (धातु; प्रति + √पद्)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Jala-dana and rasa-dana (refreshing liquids) ripen as experiential comfort precisely when one faces hardship; karmic reciprocity is time-specific and need-matched.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s fruits manifest as embodied experience in subtle states; compassion (dayā) expressed as dana yields protective punya.

Application: Offer drinking water, hydration, and cooling refreshments—especially to travelers, the poor, and during heat—regularly and with care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/charity context; journey waypoint (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.32 (path comforts from gifts); Garuda Purana 2.4.36 (anna-dana leading to satisfaction); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa motifs: thirst/heat on the path and relief through prior merits (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of water-offering (ambu-dāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that water offerings performed by the living directly become a source of relief and refreshment for the departed/preta when it is undergoing distress.

How does this verse explain support to the soul after death?

It presents a ritual-causal link: acts done ‘here’ (atra)—especially water and liquid offerings—translate into experiential comfort for the distressed being on its post-death path.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform water charity or prescribed water-offerings for ancestors/departed persons with sincerity, and cultivate compassion through life by giving essentials that relieve suffering.