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Shloka 35

Āyuḥ-kṣaya by Vikarma; Impermanence of the Body; Aśauca and Child Śrāddha Procedures; Dāna as Remedy

Devanagari script

कथं किं केन दातव्यं मृतान्ते को विधिः स्मृतः / गरुडोक्तमिति श्रुत्वा विष्णुर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्

Transliteration

kathaṃ kiṃ kena dātavyaṃ mṛtānte ko vidhiḥ smṛtaḥ / garuḍoktamiti śrutvā viṣṇurvākyamathābravīt

Translation

„Wie, was und von wem sollen zur Zeit des Todes Gaben dargebracht werden? Welches Verfahren ist vorgeschrieben?“ Als der Herr Viṣṇu die von Garuḍa gesprochenen Worte vernahm, begann er darauf zu antworten.

Word by Word
कथम्how
कथम्:
Sambandha (Interrogative/Relation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम् (अव्यय)
Formप्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)
किम्what
किम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)
केनby whom/with what
केन:
Karana (Instrument/Means)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)
दातव्यम्should be given
दातव्यम्:
Karma (Predicative obligation)
TypeVerb
Rootदा (धातु) + तव्य (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
Formतव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (to be given)
मृतान्तेat the end of death; at death-time
मृतान्ते:
Adhikarana (Location/Time)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mṛtasya antaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (locative singular)
कःwhich/what (one)
कः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (nominative singular)
विधिःrule; procedure
विधिः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootविधि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (nominative singular)
स्मृतःis stated/remembered
स्मृतः:
Karta (Predicate complement)
TypeVerb
Rootस्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
Formक्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (remembered/declared)
गरुडोक्तम्what was said by Garuḍa
गरुडोक्तम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootगरुड (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (garuḍasya uktam), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
इतिthus
इति:
Sambandha (Quotation marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formउद्धरण-समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
Kriya-viseshana (Prior action)
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having heard)
विष्णुःViṣṇu
विष्णुः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootविष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (nominative singular)
वाक्यम्speech; words
वाक्यम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootवाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (accusative singular)
अथthen
अथ:
Sambandha (Discourse connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ (अव्यय)
Formअनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)
अब्रवीत्said
अब्रवीत्:
Kriya (Main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
Speaker

Narrator (transition verse): Garuḍa asks; Lord Viṣṇu prepares to speak

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mṛtyu-kāla dāna and prescribed vidhi must be known and followed; dharma is clarified through śāstric dialogue.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as śāstra-pravaktā; right action (dharma) as purifier supporting higher aims.

Application: Seek qualified instruction on end-of-life rites and gifting; avoid improvisation in saṃskāra-related duties.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta-kalpa/ācāra sections on dāna at death and antyeṣṭi-vidhi (contextual continuation of 2.24)

Characters & Entities
G
Garuḍa
V
Viṣṇu

FAQs

This verse frames the core inquiry—what gifts should be given, how, and by whom—introducing Viṣṇu’s authoritative explanation of the prescribed procedure connected with death-time duties.

Indirectly: it signals that correct rites and giving at the time of death are consequential enough to be asked systematically, prompting Viṣṇu’s forthcoming teaching that supports the departed’s post-death journey.

Treat end-of-life planning and family duties seriously: learn the prescribed last-rite framework, ensure responsible performance by appropriate relatives/agents, and practice meaningful charity with right intent.

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