Shloka 88

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

प्रागुदक्शिरसं वापि मुखे स्वर्णं विनिः क्षेपेत् / शालग्रामशिला तत्र तुलसी च खगेश्वर

Transliteration

prāgudakśirasaṃ vāpi mukhe svarṇaṃ viniḥ kṣepet / śālagrāmaśilā tatra tulasī ca khageśvara

Translation

يا خَغيشْفَرا (غارودا)، إذا وُضِع المحتضر ورأسه متجهًا إلى الشرق أو إلى الشمال، فليُوضَع الذهب في فمه؛ وليُوضَع هناك أيضًا حجرُ شالاغراما وأوراقُ التولسي المقدّسة.

Word by Word

• prāk: eastward / in front
• prāk: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāk (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिक्-निर्देशक (directional adverb)

• udak-śirasam: having the head towards the north (water-side)
• udak-śirasam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udak (प्रातिपदिक) + śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (उदकं शिरसि यस्य/उदकशिरस्)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also/even)

• mukhe: in the mouth
• mukhe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• svarṇam: gold
• svarṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• viniḥkṣepet: should place/put down
• viniḥkṣepet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√kṣip (धातु) उपसर्ग: vi + nis
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śālagrāma-śilā: the Śālagrāma stone
• śālagrāma-śilā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāma (प्रातिपदिक) + śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शालग्रामस्य शिला)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• tulasī: Tulasī (holy basil)
• tulasī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• khageśvara: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• khageśvara: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Antima-smṛti is strengthened by Viṣṇu-sambandha (Śālagrāma, tulasī) and auspicious saṃskāra at the threshold of death.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and smṛti at antima-kāla as a support for gati; vairāgya is implied by preparing to depart.

Application: At end-of-life, orient the body east/north if possible; place tulasī and (traditionally) Śālagrāma near/with the person; keep the mind on Viṣṇu rather than fear.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.89-92 (ghee lamp, japa, worship, charity, detachment); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes: antima-smṛti, viṣṇu-nāma, dāna at death

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khageshvara)
• Shalagrama
• Tulasi

FAQs

What is the importance of placing gold in the mouth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes placing gold in the mouth as part of death-bed/last-moment rites, a sanctifying offering intended to support auspicious passage at death.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing correct orientation (east or north) and Viṣṇu-linked sanctifiers (Śālagrāma and tulasī), it frames the moment of death as spiritually directed and protected, aiding a favorable transition into the post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following tradition under qualified guidance, keep the dying person oriented east/north when feasible and remember Viṣṇu with tulasī/Śālagrāma as devotional supports; more broadly, cultivate remembrance of dharma and devotion so the final moment is steady and sacred.