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Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 40

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

किं दानमिति तुर्यस्य प्रश्नस्योत्तरमीरितम् / दाहमृत्योरन्तरे किमितिप्रश्नोत्तरं शृणु

Transliteration

kiṃ dānamiti turyasya praśnasyottaramīritam / dāhamṛtyorantare kimitipraśnottaraṃ śṛṇu

Translation

至此，第四个问题“何为布施（dāna）？”的答复已宣说。现在请听：“在死亡与火葬之间的间隙，会发生什么？”这一问的答复。

Word by Word
किम्what
किम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; प्रश्नार्थक-सर्वनाम
दानम्gift/charity
दानम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
इतिthus ('what is charity?')
इति:
Sambandha (Quotative/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formउद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (quotative particle)
तुर्यस्यof the fourth
तुर्यस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootतुर्य (प्रातिपदिक; क्रमवाचक)
Formपुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (of the fourth)
प्रश्नस्यof the question
प्रश्नस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
उत्तरम्answer
उत्तरम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootउत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
ईरितम्has been stated
ईरितम्:
Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√ईर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (passive past participle)
दाहमृत्योःof burning and death
दाहमृत्योः:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootदाह (प्रातिपदिक) + मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (दाहश्च मृत्युश्च)
अन्तरेin between
अन्तरे:
Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootअन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
किम्what
किम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; प्रश्नार्थक
इतिthus ('what (is to be done) in between?')
इति:
Sambandha (Quotative/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formउद्धरणार्थक-अव्ययम्
प्रश्नोत्तरम्the question-and-answer
प्रश्नोत्तरम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रश्न + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (प्रश्नश्च उत्तरं च)
शृणुhear/listen
शृणु:
Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√श्रु (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd), एकवचनम्
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda, Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Structured instruction: completion of dāna teaching and transition to explaining the post-death, pre-cremation interval.

Vedantic Theme: Orderly śāstric pedagogy (prashna-uttara) guiding right conduct at thresholds; dharma as support for right passage.

Application: Use clear, stepwise guidance for end-of-life and post-death procedures; ensure family knows what to do immediately after death and before cremation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.41 (immediate post-death actions: bathing and washing the body)

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse marks dāna as a formal doctrinal topic—answered as a key question—showing it is treated as a vital dharmic support for the departed and for the living’s merit.

It introduces the next teaching: what happens in the time between death and cremation, implying that this interim is spiritually significant and connected with proper rites and understanding of the preta condition.

Treat charity and post-death rites as purposeful duties: give dāna with clarity of intent, and perform timely, respectful funeral/cremation procedures while remembering the spiritual transition underway.

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