Shloka 5

Dīkṣā Procedure: Homa Measures, Elemental Reconstitution, and Naming by Omen

Devanagari script

आग्रेय्या दह्यमानांश्च प्लावितानम्भसा पुनः / तेजस्तेजासि तं जीवमेकीकृत्य समाक्षिपेत्

Transliteration

āgreyyā dahyamānāṃśca plāvitānambhasā punaḥ / tejastejāsi taṃ jīvamekīkṛtya samākṣipet

Translation

Dann, durch den feurigen Ritus, sollen die Verbrannten—und wiederum die im Wasser Untergetauchten—jene Einzelseele in ihr eigenes Leuchten gesammelt und zurück in das Element Feuer geworfen werden: Licht in das Licht.

Word by Word

• आग्रेय्या: by the fiery (Agni-related)
• आग्रेय्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आग्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); करणत्वेन—‘आग्रेय्या (कलया/शक्त्या)’ (by the fire-related)

• दह्यमानान्: (them) being burnt
• दह्यमानान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दह् (धातु) → दह्यमाण (कृदन्त; कर्मणि वर्तमान-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मणि—‘being burnt’

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• प्लावितान्: (them) washed/flooded
• प्लावितान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्लु (धातु) → प्लावित (कृदन्त; णिच् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मणि—‘made to float/washed’

• अम्भसा: with water
• अम्भसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Adverbial (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — पुनरावृत्त्यर्थः (again)

• तेजः: radiance/energy
• तेजः: Karma (Object in apposition/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तेजसि: in radiance/into energy
• तेजसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तम्: that (him/it)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) / सर्वलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• जीवम्: the living being (jīva)
• जीवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• एकीकृत्य: having made (it) one/unified
• एकीकृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकी-कृ (धातु; नामधातु/कृ + क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) — ‘एकं कृत्वा’ (having unified)

• समाक्षिपेत्: should cast/merge (it) completely
• समाक्षिपेत्: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु) + सम् + आ (उपसर्गौ)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recollection and reintegration of the jīva into its luminous essence; symbolic dissolution of individuality into tejas (light) as a step toward transcendence.

Vedantic Theme: Laya (dissolution) of upādhis; movement from gross purification (agni/āpas) to subtle identity with light-consciousness (tejas as symbol).

Application: Use purification disciplines (austerity, ethical cleansing, contemplative ‘burning’ of habits) followed by cooling integration (clarity, steadiness) to stabilize inner luminosity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual altar/inner initiation space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sequences of bhūta-śuddhi (elemental purification) around this passage

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Jiva

FAQs

What is the importance of merging into tejas (fire/radiance) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the funeral act as an elemental return: the soul’s connection with bodily elements is ritually resolved by uniting “light with light,” symbolizing dissolution of gross ties and aiding onward passage.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It indicates a transition marked by rites: whether the body is cremated or immersed, the intended spiritual outcome is consolidation of the jīva’s association and its release through elemental re-absorption, supporting the post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform last rites with clarity of intent—seeing them not as mere disposal but as a dharmic act of release—while maintaining ethical living so the subtle journey after death is less burdened by unresolved karmic ties.