Shloka 23

The Narrative of the Five Pretas

Eligibility for rites and jīvac-chrāddha procedure

Devanagari script

पञ्चाशता कुशैर्ब्राह्मीं कृत्वा प्रतिकृतिं दहेत् / हुत्वा श्माशानिकं होमं पूर्णाहुत्यन्तमेव हि

Transliteration

pañcāśatā kuśairbrāhmīṃ kṛtvā pratikṛtiṃ dahet / hutvā śmāśānikaṃ homaṃ pūrṇāhutyantameva hi

Translation

وبخمسين من عشب الكوشا يُصاغ تمثالٌ شبيهٌ بالبراهمن، ثم تُحرَق تلك الصورة البديلة؛ وبعد أداء هومة موضع الحرق (śmāśānika homa) يُتمّ العمل حقًّا حتى القربان الختامي الكامل، «بورنَاهوتي» (pūrṇāhuti).

Word by Word

• पञ्चाशता: with fifty
• पञ्चाशता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3), एकवचन; करणवाचक (instrumental)

• कुशैः: with kuśa grass
• कुशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3), बहुवचन

• ब्राह्मीम्: a Brahmī (figure/effigy named Brahmī)
• ब्राह्मीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), पूर्वकाल (having done/made)

• प्रतिकृतिम्: a replica, effigy
• प्रतिकृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति + कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• दहेत्: should burn
• दहेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• हुत्वा: having offered (oblations)
• हुत्वा: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु) → हुत्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वा), पूर्वकाल (having offered)

• श्माशानिकम्: pertaining to the cremation-ground
• श्माशानिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक) + इक (तद्धित) → श्माशानिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying होमम्)

• होमम्: homa, fire-offering
• होमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• पूर्णाहुत्यन्तम्: ending with the full oblation
• पूर्णाहुत्यन्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आहुति (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पूर्णाहुतेः अन्तः यस्य) विशेषण (qualifying होमम्)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• हि: for, indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for/indeed)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Death-rite adjunct; completion up to pūrṇāhuti

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Substitution (pratikṛti) and homa as karmic-ritual technology to complete required rites when direct performance on the body/person is not possible or is symbolically represented.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual action (karma) operates within māyika order to restore dharma and reduce saṃskāra-burden; completion (pūrṇāhuti) signifies closure and containment.

Application: In rites of closure, ensure completion—do not leave processes half-done; symbolic substitutes must be made with care and reverence, not as shortcuts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: śmaśāna / ritual fire-site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.8.22 (agni kindling); Garuda Purana 2.8.24 (alternative when no fire); Garuda Purana 2.8.25-26 (caru and mantra offerings)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Brahmin
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of a kuśa-grass pratikṛti (effigy) in Garuda Purana funeral rites?

This verse prescribes making a substitute-form from kuśa grass and burning it as part of the rite, indicating a formal ritual representation to complete prescribed cremation procedures when required by tradition.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Preta Kanda?

By emphasizing correct completion of śmāśānika homa up to the pūrṇāhuti, the verse frames funeral fire-rites as essential dharmic actions that support orderly post-death transitions described elsewhere in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow established Antyeṣṭi procedures under qualified guidance, ensuring rites are completed properly (including final offerings), while keeping the intent of dharma, respect for the dead, and ritual completeness.