Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 12

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सर्वं प्रकुर्वीत चञ्चले जीविते सति / गृहीतदानपाथेयः सुखं याति महाध्वनि

Transliteration

tasmātsarvaṃ prakurvīta cañcale jīvite sati / gṛhītadānapātheyaḥ sukhaṃ yāti mahādhvani

Translation

Vì thế, khi mạng sống còn đó mà vốn mong manh, hãy làm trọn mọi việc cần làm theo dharma. Lấy bố thí làm lương thực đường xa, người ấy sẽ đi vui trên đại lộ lớn (sau khi chết).

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Cause/Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी एकवचनम्; हेतौ (Ablative singular; 'therefore/from that')

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Accusative singular, neuter)

• प्रकुर्वीत: should do/should perform
• प्रकुर्वीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (लिङ्-लकारः), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् (Optative, 3rd sg)

• चञ्चले: in (something) fickle
• चञ्चले: Adhikarana (Location/Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चञ्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Locative singular, neuter)

• जीविते: in life
• जीविते: Adhikarana (Location/Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (Locative singular, neuter)

• सति: while it exists/when (it) is
• सति: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्; सति-सप्तमी (present participle; locative sg; locative absolute)

• गृहीतदानपाथेयः: one who has taken charity as provisions
• गृहीतदानपाथेयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहीत (ग्रह् धातु + क्त) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + पाथेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दानस्य पाथेयम्) तथा पूर्वपदं कृदन्तम् (गृहीतम्) (Nominative singular, masculine; 'having taken the provision of charity')

• सुखम्: happily/with ease
• सुखम्: Karma (Manner/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (Accusative singular, neuter; adverbial)

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् (Present indicative, 3rd sg)

• महाध्वनि: on the great road (journey)
• महाध्वनि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (महान् अध्वा) (Locative singular, masculine)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Because life is unstable, complete dharmic duties now; charity functions as travel-provision for the post-mortem journey, bringing ease.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya (impermanence) prompting pravṛtti toward dharma; karma bears fruit beyond death; preparedness for saṃsāra’s transitions.

Application: Do not postpone dharmic acts (dāna, duties, rites); create a consistent habit of giving as ‘preparedness’ for uncertainty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: liminal journey-path (metaphor)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated ‘path/provisions’ metaphor for the preta’s journey and the role of dāna; Adjacent verses 2.14.13–14 elaborate the same travel-provision logic

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta (implied)
• Yama (contextually implied)
• Pitris (contextually relevant)

FAQs

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

This verse frames charity as pātheya—spiritual travel-provision—making the post-death journey easier and more auspicious.

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

It depicts death as a “great journey” (mahādhvani) and teaches that dharmic actions—especially charity—support the jīva as it proceeds on that path.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with urgency about dharma: give regularly, fulfill duties, and cultivate generosity now rather than postponing spiritual preparation.