Shloka 64

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

ॐ विष्णुरिति संस्मृत्य प्रेतं तन्मृत्युमेव च / अग्निदाहं ततः कुर्यात्सूतकन्तु दिनत्रयम्

Transliteration

oṃ viṣṇuriti saṃsmṛtya pretaṃ tanmṛtyumeva ca / agnidāhaṃ tataḥ kuryātsūtakantu dinatrayam

Translation

مستحضِراً (مُتلفِّظاً) «أوم، فيشنو»، ومتأمِّلاً في الـ«بريتا» وفي الموت ذاته، فليقم بعد ذلك بالحرق بالنار؛ وليُراعَ السوتَكا (النجاسة الطقسية) ثلاثة أيام.

Word by Word

• om: Om
• om: Invocation
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: om (ॐ)
• Form: Sacred Syllable

• viṣṇuḥ: Vishnu
• viṣṇuḥ: Sambodhya (Addressed/Named)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (विष्णु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: Marker (End of quote)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (इति)
• Form: Particle

• saṃsmṛtya: having remembered
• saṃsmṛtya: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saṃsmṛ (संस्मृ)
• Form: Lyap-pratyaya (Absolutive)

• pretam: the deceased
• pretam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रेत)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• tanmṛtyum: his death
• tanmṛtyum: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanmṛtyu (तन्मृत्यु)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular (tad + mṛtyu)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (एव)
• Form: Particle

• ca: and
• ca: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• agnidāham: cremation (burning by fire)
• agnidāham: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agnidāha (अग्निदाह)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adverb
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Tasil-pratyaya

• kuryāt: should perform
• kuryāt: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Ekavachana

• sūtakam: impurity period
• sūtakam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūtaka (सूतक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• tu: but/however
• tu: Emphasis/Contrast
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (तु)
• Form: Particle

• dinatrayam: three days
• dinatrayam: Kala-Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dinatraya (दिनत्रय)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately around cremation; sūtaka observed for three days thereafter.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Remember Viṣṇu and the reality of death while performing cremation; observe prescribed impurity period.

Vedantic Theme: Smaraṇa of the divine amid impermanence; vairāgya through death-contemplation while fulfilling svadharma.

Application: During last rites, maintain mantra-centered composure; follow community-appropriate aśauca rules with sensitivity and clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: cremation ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana antyeṣṭi and aśauca instructions in the same chapter sequence; Next verse 2.40.65 on daśāha and piṇḍa offerings

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Preta
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of chanting ‘Om Vishnu’ in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse frames remembrance of Viṣṇu at the time of funeral action as a sanctifying focus, aligning the mind with dharma while performing the final rite (cremation).

How does this verse describe the immediate duty after death?

It directs that, after invoking Viṣṇu and acknowledging the departed as a preta, the family should proceed to agni-dāha (cremation) and observe sūtaka for three days.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform last rites with reverence and clarity, keep a disciplined three-day mourning/impurity observance as per tradition, and use remembrance of Viṣṇu to steady the mind during bereavement.