Shloka 34

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

लवणं तु तदा देयं द्वारस्योद्वाटनं दिवः / अन्यच्च शृणु पक्षीन्द्र मृत्यो रूपं प्रपञ्चतः

Transliteration

lavaṇaṃ tu tadā deyaṃ dvārasyodvāṭanaṃ divaḥ / anyacca śṛṇu pakṣīndra mṛtyo rūpaṃ prapañcataḥ

Translation

في ذلك الحين ينبغي حقًّا أن يُعطى الملح—فهو كفتح باب السماء. ثم اسمع أيضًا، يا ملك الطير (غارودا)، إذ أصف لك بالتفصيل صورة الموت ذاتها.

Word by Word

• लवणम्: salt
• लवणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (then/at that time)

• देयम्: to be given
• देयम्: Vidhi (Injunctive predicate/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त प्रत्यय) → देय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेयार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive: ‘to be given’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण

• द्वारस्य: of the door/gate
• द्वारस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उद्वाटनम्: opening, unbolting
• उद्वाटनम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद् + वट्/वाट् (धातु: वटँ/वाटँ—वेष्टने/उद्घाटने) + ल्युट् → उद्वाटन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त नाम: action noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिवः: of heaven
• दिवः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक: दिव्/द्यौ ‘heaven’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अन्यत्: another (thing)
• अन्यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (another/further)

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

• शृणु: hear, listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (Command/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• पक्षीन्द्र: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• पक्षीन्द्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: पक्षिणाम् इन्द्रः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• मृत्योः: of death
• मृत्योः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रूपम्: form, nature
• रूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रपञ्चतः: in detail, extensively
• प्रपञ्चतः: Prakāra (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रपञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘in detail/at length’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific dāna at the critical time functions as a karmic key (dvāra-udghāṭana) to favorable post-mortem destiny; contemplation of Death is part of dharmic realism.

Vedantic Theme: Smaraṇa of mortality (mṛtyu-smṛti) as a purifier; karma shaping gati (post-mortem course) while cultivating detachment.

Application: At imminent death, arrange prescribed gifts (here, salt) and orient the mind toward dharma; listen/reflect on teachings about death to reduce confusion and fear.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: gate/threshold

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.30-32 (lavaṇa-dāna phala; Viṣṇu-origin); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa sections describing Mṛtyu, Yamadūtas, and the soul’s journey (broad internal linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Mrityu (Death)
• Diva (Heaven)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering salt in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse states that giving salt at the prescribed time is considered a symbolic and ritual aid—described here as an “opening of the gate to heaven,” supporting the departed’s auspicious passage.

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

It links ritual observance (the offering of salt) with an auspicious afterlife outcome (heavenly access) and then transitions to a doctrinal explanation of Death’s nature, implying that understanding death and performing rites both shape the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform end-of-life and post-death rites with sincerity and scriptural care, and cultivate awareness of mortality (mṛtyu) so daily choices align with dharma and reduce fear through understanding.