Shloka 7

Preta-mārga Supports (Dāna), Chitragupta’s Accounting, and the Enumeration of Narakas

Devanagari script

कार्तिके च चतुर्दश्यां दीपदानं सुखाय वै / अथ वक्ष्यामि संक्षेपाद्यममार्गस्य निष्कृतिम्

Transliteration

kārtike ca caturdaśyāṃ dīpadānaṃ sukhāya vai / atha vakṣyāmi saṃkṣepādyamamārgasya niṣkṛtim

Translation

Vào ngày Chaturdaśī (ngày 14 âm lịch) của tháng Kārtika, việc cúng dâng ngọn đèn (dīpa-dāna) quả thật đem lại an lạc và phúc lành. Nay ta sẽ nói vắn tắt về niṣkṛti—pháp sám hối, chuộc lỗi—liên quan đến con đường đi đến Yama (hành trình sau khi chết).

Word by Word

• कार्तिके: in (the month of) Kārtika
• कार्तिके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; कालवाचक-स्थानाधिकरणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• चतुर्दश्याम्: on the fourteenth lunar day
• चतुर्दश्याम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; तिथिवाचकम्

• दीपदानम्: the giving of a lamp
• दीपदानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप + दान (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दीपस्य दानम्)

• सुखाय: for happiness
• सुखाय: Sampradana (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (Dative/4th), एकवचनम्; प्रयोजनार्थः

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-निपातः (emphatic particle)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-निपातः (then/now)

• वक्ष्यामि: I shall speak
• वक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• संक्षेपात्: briefly
• संक्षेपात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative/5th), एकवचनम्; प्रकार/रीतिवाचकः (in brief)

• यममार्गस्य: of the path of Yama
• यममार्गस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य मार्गः)

• निष्कृतिम्: the expiation/remedy
• निष्कृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; कर्मपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna and niṣkṛti (expiatory/ameliorative acts) prepare and protect the jīva for the post-mortem journey (Yama-mārga).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and saṃskāra: intentional righteous action refines the subtle trajectory after death; dharma as a means to inner and outer well-being.

Application: Observe Kārtika caturdaśī dīpa-dāna with sankalpa for welfare of self and departed; adopt regular charity as a preventative niṣkṛti.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-time marker

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yama-mārga descriptions and niṣkṛti sections (general); Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa: dāna prescriptions tied to ekādaśāha/dvādaśāha/trayodaśāha (general)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of dīpa-dāna on Kārtika Chaturdaśī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offering a lamp on Kārtika’s fourteenth day is a source of sukha (comfort and well-being), and it is presented as a supportive rite connected to after-death concerns.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s path to Yama (Yama-mārga)?

It introduces the topic of Yama-mārga and signals that the text will explain niṣkṛti—remedial practices meant to reduce hardship and fear associated with the post-mortem journey.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Observe Kārtika Chaturdaśī with a sincere lamp offering (at home/temple or as charity), dedicating the merit for peace and clarity—especially when performing or supporting śrāddha-related intentions.