Shloka 24

Āśauca and Udaka-kriyā: Post-Cremation Conduct, Eligibility, and Purifiers

Devanagari script

वस्त्रोपलासवं पुष्पं शाकमृच्चर्मपादुकम् / एणत्वचं च कौशेयं लवणं मासमेव च

Transliteration

vastropalāsavaṃ puṣpaṃ śākamṛccarmapādukam / eṇatvacaṃ ca kauśeyaṃ lavaṇaṃ māsameva ca

Translation

Als Dinge, die nach Vorschrift zu geben oder zu verwenden sind, werden genannt: Tuch; Becher oder Opfergefäß; eine Blume; Blattgemüse; irdenes Geschirr und Lederschuhe; Hirschhaut; Seide; Salz; und auch schwarzer Gram (māṣa).

Word by Word

• वस्त्र: cloth/garment
• वस्त्र: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (पूर्वपद)

• उपल: stone
• उपल: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• आसवम्: fermented liquor (as an item)
• आसवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (वस्त्र+उपल+आसव) समाहारद्वन्द्वः; समस्तपदम्

• पुष्पम्: flower
• पुष्पम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• शाकम्: vegetable/greens
• शाकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• मृत्: clay/earth
• मृत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• चर्म: leather/skin
• चर्म: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• पादुकम्: footwear/sandals (as an item)
• पादुकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादुका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (शाक+मृत्+चर्म+पादुक) समाहारद्वन्द्वः; समस्तपदम्

• एण: deer/antelope
• एण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (समासे); समासपूर्वपद

• त्वचम्: deerskin
• त्वचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (एणस्य त्वच्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• कौशेयम्: silk cloth
• कौशेयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• लवणम्: salt
• लवणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• मासम्: month (as a commodity/term)
• मासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Modifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right use and gifting/handling of specific substances as part of regulated religious life.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier when aligned with śāstra; external acts supporting inner sattva.

Application: Follow tradition-specific lists for dāna/ritual procurement; keep offerings pure, appropriate, and non-harmful.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.106 (dāna/vikraya-niṣedha context continuing into 1.106.25-27); Garuda Purana śrāddha/dāna sections elsewhere in Preta-khaṇḍa and Dharma-khaṇḍa (general parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of these listed items in the Garuda Purana?

This verse enumerates specific materials traditionally prescribed for ritual giving/usage; such regulated dāna is presented as dharmic conduct that supports merit and proper observance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: the Garuda Purana links dharmic acts like prescribed dāna with accruing puṇya, which influences post-death outcomes; this verse contributes by detailing what may be offered.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional charity: donate clothing and essential goods (food staples like salt/legumes), and support ritual needs responsibly—prioritizing sincerity, cleanliness, and appropriateness to context.