Shloka 5

Āśauca and Udaka-kriyā: Post-Cremation Conduct, Eligibility, and Purifiers

Devanagari script

कामोदकाः पुत्रसखिस्वस्त्रीयश्वशुरर्त्विजः / नामगोत्रेण ह्युदकं सकृत्सिञ्चन्ति वाग्यताः

Transliteration

kāmodakāḥ putrasakhisvastrīyaśvaśurartvijaḥ / nāmagotreṇa hyudakaṃ sakṛtsiñcanti vāgyatāḥ

Translation

تُقدَّم سكبـة الماء لمن يُسمَّون «kāmodakāḥ»: الابن، والصديق، وابن الأخت، والحمو (أبو الزوجة)، والكاهن المُقيم للشعيرة (ṛtvij). وفي صمتٍ تام يُسكب الماء مرةً واحدة مع تلاوة الاسم والـgotra (السلالة).

Word by Word

• कामोदकाः: (those who offer) desire-water / water offered with desire
• कामोदकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कामेन/कामाय उदकाः)

• पुत्रसखिस्वस्त्रीयश्वशुरर्त्विजः: sons, friends, relatives by one’s own womenfolk, fathers-in-law, and officiating priests
• पुत्रसखिस्वस्त्रीयश्वशुरर्त्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + सखि + स्वस्त्रीय + श्वशुर + ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (पुत्राः च सखायः च स्वस्त्रीयाः च श्वशुराः च ऋत्विजः च)

• नामगोत्रेण: by (uttering) name and lineage
• नामगोत्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाम + गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (नाम च गोत्रं च)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• उदकम्: water
• उदकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: Modifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/परिमाणवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: once)

• सिञ्चन्ति: they sprinkle/pour
• सिञ्चन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• वाग्यताः: with restrained speech, silent
• वाग्यताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् + यत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘यत’ from यम् (to restrain); तत्पुरुषः (वाचा यताः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya, per the usual Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Within tarpaṇa/udaka-kriyā segment of śrāddha as prescribed.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Eligibility and method: offer udaka once, in silence, naming recipient with gotra—ritual efficacy through correct saṅkalpa and restraint.

Vedantic Theme: karma as niyama—right action depends on intention (saṅkalpa) and disciplined speech (vāk-niyama).

Application: When performing tarpaṇa/udaka offerings, keep speech restrained, state name+gotra mentally or softly as prescribed, and avoid repetitive/unclear offerings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.106 (lists of recipients: pitṛs, guru-line, kāmodakāḥ; method of pouring once)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering water (udaka/tarpaṇa) with name and gotra in Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes precision and intention in ritual: the offering is directed by specifying the recipient’s name and lineage (gotra), ensuring the rite is properly addressed.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the broader Garuda Purana framework where correct rites aid post-death transitions; here it details who should receive a particular libation and the disciplined manner of offering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing ancestral or related rites, follow clear identification (name/gotra) and maintain a focused, restrained demeanor—treating the act as a mindful duty rather than a casual gesture.