Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 21

The Explanation of Various Gifts (Dāna) and the Soul’s Entry into Another Body

Devanagari script

यमदूता महारौद्राः करालाः कृष्णपिङ्गलाः / न भीषयन्ति तं याम्या वस्त्रदाने कृते सति

Transliteration

yamadūtā mahāraudrāḥ karālāḥ kṛṣṇapiṅgalāḥ / na bhīṣayanti taṃ yāmyā vastradāne kṛte sati

Translation

阎摩之使者极其凶猛，口裂狰狞，眼呈深褐；然而对那位已如法布施衣服之人，在通往阎摩之路上，他们不能使其恐惧。

Word by Word

• यमदूताः: messengers of Yama
• यमदूताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम + दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य दूताः)

• महारौद्राः: very fierce
• महारौद्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā + रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (यमदूतानाम्)

• करालाः: terrifying
• करालाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• कृष्णपिङ्गलाः: black-and-tawny (dark-yellow)
• कृष्णपिङ्गलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण + पिङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• भीषयन्ति: frighten
• भीषयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भीष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• याम्याः: the Yama-attendants (Yamya beings)
• याम्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; यमसम्बन्धिनः (यमलोक-सेवकाः)

• वस्त्रदाने: in/at the giving of clothes
• वस्त्रदाने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वस्त्रस्य दानम्)

• कृते: when (it is) done
• कृते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; 'वस्त्रदाने' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सति: when/while (it) exists; in that case
• सति: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अस् (धातु) → सत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन (locative absolute), नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सति-सप्तमी (absolute construction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Antyeṣṭi/śrāddha-associated dāna (implied)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna (gift of clothing) yields immediate post-mortem protection from भय on the Yama-path.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala operating in subtle realms; ethical action as a purifier and protector for the jīva’s journey.

Application: Perform vastra-dāna (especially connected with antyeṣṭi/śrāddha) with proper intention and recipient, as a support for the departed and as cultivation of generosity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: path/threshold-route

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: dāna as aid on yamamārga; descriptions of yamadūtas and their intimidation of sinners; Garuda Purana: vastra-dāna among antyeṣṭi/śrāddha-related gifts

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamadutas

FAQs

What is the importance of vastra-dāna (donation of clothing) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that properly performed clothing-donation becomes a protective merit, preventing the terrifying Yamadūtas from frightening the departed on Yama’s path.

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

It implies the deceased encounters Yama’s realm and its messengers, and that specific ritual charity (dāna), here vastra-dāna, influences the experience—reducing fear and obstruction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice sincere charity—especially gifting usable clothing with a ritual intent for ancestors or in remembrance—cultivating compassion and supporting dharmic rites connected with death and mourning.