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Shloka 32

Akalamṛtyu-kāraṇa and Bāla Antyeṣṭi: Age-graded Funeral Rites, Śrāddha Types, and Sonship Duties

Devanagari script

काङ्कां गतिमवाप्नोति जायो मृत्युवशं गतः / भवेन्न दुहिता यस्य न दौहित्रो न वा सुतः

Transliteration

kāṅkāṃ gatimavāpnoti jāyo mṛtyuvaśaṃ gataḥ / bhavenna duhitā yasya na dauhitro na vā sutaḥ

Translation

الرجل إذا وقع تحت سلطان الموت نال حالًا بائسًا—وخاصة إن لم تكن له ابنة، ولا ابنُ ابنةٍ (dauhitra)، ولا ابن.

Word by Word
काङ्काम्desire/longing
काङ्काम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकाङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
गतिम्state/condition/going
गतिम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootगति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
अवाप्नोतिattains
अवाप्नोति:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअव + √आप् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन
जायःthe husband
जायः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootजाय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘husband’ (rare)
मृत्युवशम्the control of death
मृत्युवशम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मृत्योः वशः)
गतःhas gone (fallen under)
गतः:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त; क्त)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘gone/subjected’
भवेत्would be
भवेत्:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√भू (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ्-लकार (potential/optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन
नnot
न:
Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-निपात
दुहिताdaughter
दुहिता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
यस्यwhose
यस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (whose)
नno/not
न:
Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-निपात
दौहित्रःdaughter's son (grandson)
दौहित्रः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदौहित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
नnor
न:
Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-निपात
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (Disjunction/विकल्प)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्प-निपात (or)
सुतःson
सुतः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसुत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Without daughter, dauhitra, or son, a dying person faces a ‘kāṅkā’ (wretched/longing) condition—implying the dharmic importance of progeny for ritual continuity and support at death.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāric dependence on relational supports; the role of gṛhastha-dharma in sustaining pitṛ-ṛṇa and social order.

Application: Plan responsibly for end-of-life rites and care; if no biological descendants, arrange lawful/ritual alternatives (adoption, appointed performers, community support) consistent with tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.25 (transition toward śrāddha questions and ancestral debt)

Characters & Entities
M
Mrityu (Death)

FAQs

This verse links post-death welfare to the presence of descendants who can continue śrāddha, tarpaṇa, and piṇḍa-dāna—supports believed to aid the departed’s onward journey and ancestral obligations.

It implies that when a person falls under “Death’s control,” their post-mortem condition can become difficult if there is no family line to sustain the prescribed rites that traditionally uphold the preta’s transition and pitṛ-related duties.

Maintain ancestral duties (śrāddha/tarpaṇa) and ensure end-of-life and post-death arrangements are responsibly planned within the family or community so that traditional obligations are not neglected.

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