Shloka 1

Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite

Devanagari script

नाम षट्चत्वारिंशोध्यायः गरुड उवाच / भगवन्देवदेवेश कृपया परया वद / दानं दानस्य माहात्म्यं वैतरण्याः प्रमाणकम्

Transliteration

nāma ṣaṭcatvāriṃśodhyāyaḥ garuḍa uvāca / bhagavandevadeveśa kṛpayā parayā vada / dānaṃ dānasya māhātmyaṃ vaitaraṇyāḥ pramāṇakam

Translation

گرُڑ نے کہا— اے بھگون، اے دیوتاؤں کے دیویش! اپنی اعلیٰ کرپا سے مجھے دان کا سوروپ، دان کی مہیمہ اور ویتَرَنی کا مستند بیان عطا فرمائیے۔

Word by Word

• नाम: named/entitled
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; ‘called/entitled’)

• षट्चत्वारिंशः: forty-sixth
• षट्चत्वारिंशः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट्चत्वारिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक; षट् + चत्वारिंशत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Numeral adjective qualifying ‘अध्यायः’

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• गरुडः: Garuda
• गरुडः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• देवदेवेश: O Lord of the gods
• देवदेवेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदेवेश (प्रातिपदिक; देव + देव + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• कृपया: by compassion
• कृपया: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• परया: supreme/great
• परया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular; विशेषण of ‘कृपया’

• वद: tell/speak
• वद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• दानस्य: of charity
• दानस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness/glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• वैतरण्याः: of the Vaitaraṇī (river)
• वैतरण्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैतरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• प्रमाणकम्: authoritative account/measure
• प्रमाणकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमाणक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular; appositional qualifier to the requested topic

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu (Deva-devesha)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna-māhātmya (the greatness of charity) as a salvific support, and pramāṇa (authoritative description) regarding Vaitaraṇī.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as śāstra-pramāṇa and anugraha (grace) bestowing right knowledge that guides karma toward purification.

Application: Cultivate intentional giving (dāna) and seek śāstric guidance for end-of-life and post-death welfare; treat charity as a disciplined practice, not impulse.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Vaitaraṇī-nadī descriptions and dāna as crossing-aid (adjacent adhyāyas in Pretakalpa); Garuda Purana: dāna-prakaraṇa (gift-types, recipients, timing) commonly paired with preta-journey narratives

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Vaitarani

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames charity as a central spiritual topic worthy of direct instruction from the Lord, implying that dāna has decisive value for dharma and post-death welfare.

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

By asking for the “pramāṇa” of Vaitaraṇī, Garuda signals a transition into teachings about the after-death passage and the conditions faced by the departed, alongside remedies such as meritorious giving.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional charity as a dharmic discipline—give ethically, with compassion, and in remembrance of spiritual accountability, especially in contexts connected with śrāddha and remembrance of ancestors.