Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 23

The Explanation of the Post-funeral Rites (Aurdhvadehika) and Related Matters

Devanagari script

दर्भमयाश्च चत्वारो विप्रा मन्त्राभिमन्त्रिताः / ततो दाहः प्रकर्तव्यः तैश्च पुत्तलकैः सह

Transliteration

darbhamayāśca catvāro viprā mantrābhimantritāḥ / tato dāhaḥ prakartavyaḥ taiśca puttalakaiḥ saha

Translation

يُعيَّن أربعة «براهمة» مصنوعون من عشب الدَّربها وقد مُنِحوا القوّة بتلاوة المانترا؛ ثم تُجرى المحرقة مع تلك «البوتّالاكا» (التماثيل الرمزية) معًا.

Word by Word

• दर्भ-मयाः: made of darbha grass
• दर्भ-मयाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दर्भेण मयाः = made of darbha grass)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• विप्राः: brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मन्त्र-अभिमन्त्रिताः: consecrated/enchanted with mantras
• मन्त्र-अभिमन्त्रिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अभि- (उपसर्ग) + मन्त्र् (धातु) + क्त → अभिमन्त्रित (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्रेण अभिमन्त्रिताः = consecrated with mantras)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; thereafter

• दाहः: burning/cremation
• दाहः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रकर्तव्यः: should be performed
• प्रकर्तव्यः: Vidheyāṅga (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र- (उपसर्ग) + कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्-प्रत्यय, gerundive/भाव्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• तैः: by/with those
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• पुत्तलकैः: with the effigies
• पुत्तलकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्तलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (with)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During cremation (dāha-kāla) after mantra-empowerment of darbha puttalakas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra can consecrate ritual substitutes; cremation is to be executed with empowered puttalakas, ensuring completeness of rite.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual symbolism (pratīka) channels intention (saṅkalpa) and dharmic order; saṃskāra purifies subtle impressions.

Application: Follow prescribed funerary protocol: prepare darbha-based effigies, empower with mantras, and complete cremation accordingly under guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: antyeṣṭi-sthāna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: antyeṣṭi details on darbha, mantra, and cremation procedure; Immediate context 2.35.22 (placement) and 2.35.24 (post-aśauca śānti)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas
• Darbha (Kusha grass)
• Mantras
• Puttalakas (ritual effigies)

FAQs

What is the importance of darbha (kuśa) grass in Garuda Purana funeral rites?

This verse shows darbha being used to form mantra-consecrated ritual representations, emphasizing purity and Vedic sanctification in cremation-related procedures.

Why does the verse mention puttalakas (effigies) being burned along with the cremation?

It indicates a prescribed ritual method where consecrated substitutes/representations accompany the rite, ensuring the procedure is completed according to śāstric injunctions even when symbolic supports are required.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform last rites with trained priests and proper mantra-vidhi, prioritizing sincerity, cleanliness, and fidelity to tradition rather than improvisation in sensitive death-ritual contexts.