Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 50

Dāna for the Preta: Supreme Gifts, Yama’s Pacification, and Viṣṇu-Smaraṇa at the Time of Death

Devanagari script

यन्निशायां तथा प्रातर्यन्मध्याह्नापराह्नयोः / सन्ध्ययोर्यत् कृतं कर्म कर्मणा मनसा गिरा

Transliteration

yanniśāyāṃ tathā prātaryanmadhyāhnāparāhnayoḥ / sandhyayoryat kṛtaṃ karma karmaṇā manasā girā

Translation

凡夜间所作，凡黎明所作，凡正午与午后所作，及于两次暮晓交接之时（sandhyā）所作——无论以身、以意、以语所行之业，皆被记为业（karma）。

Word by Word

• यत्: whatever (sin/deed)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• निशायाम्: at night
• निशायाम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• प्रातर्: in the morning
• प्रातर्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातर् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• यत्: whatever (sin/deed)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• मध्याह्नापराह्नयोः: at midday and in the afternoon
• मध्याह्नापराह्नयोः: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्याह्न + अपराह्न (प्रातिपदिक-द्वन्द्व)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th), द्विवचन; कालवाचक (during midday and afternoon)

• सन्ध्ययोः: at the two twilights (dawn & dusk)
• सन्ध्ययोः: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th), द्विवचन

• यत्: whatever (sin/deed)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• कृतम्: done/committed
• कृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• कर्म: act/deed
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• कर्मणा: by action (deed)
• कर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• गिरा: by speech/word
• गिरा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All actions—across all times of day and through body, mind, and speech—constitute karma and bear results.

Vedantic Theme: Kartṛtva-bhoktṛtva nexus: agency expressed through kāya-manas-vāk; saṃskāra formation through repeated acts and intentions.

Application: Practice tri-karaṇa-śuddhi (purity of body, speech, mind) and sandhyā-time mindfulness; align daily routine with ethical intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.30 context: cataloguing karmic accountability leading into remedial gifts/acts

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of karma done at sandhya (twilight) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that deeds done at the sandhyā junctions are fully counted as karma, so one should be especially mindful of conduct and worship at these transitional times.

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

By stating that karma from all times of day and from body, mind, and speech is counted, it implies the soul’s post-death experience is shaped by the total moral sum of one’s actions—not only visible deeds but also thoughts and words.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint and truthfulness in speech, cultivate clean intentions, and align daily routines—especially mornings and sandhyā times—with prayer, self-control, and ethical choices.