Shloka 22

Preta-bhāva: Causes, Remedies, and the Rationale of Post-death Rites

Question-Catalogue

Devanagari script

कस्मात्तैलोद्वर्तनं च स्कन्धवाहान् गृहं नयेत् / तैः समुद्वर्तनं चापि दद्युः स्थलजलाश्रये

Transliteration

kasmāttailodvartanaṃ ca skandhavāhān gṛhaṃ nayet / taiḥ samudvartanaṃ cāpi dadyuḥ sthalajalāśraye

Translation

Warum Öl zum Einreiben nehmen und die Leichenträger wieder ins Haus führen? Vielmehr sollen eben diese Träger sich an einem Ort, der mit Erde und Wasser verbunden ist (draußen, nahe am Wasser), einreiben und reinigen, nicht im Innern des Hauses.

Word by Word

• कस्मात्: from what (cause); why
• कस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक (ablative: 'from what cause/why')

• तैलोद्वर्तनम्: oil-rubbing; anointing with oil
• तैलोद्वर्तनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल + उद्वर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: तैलस्य उद्वर्तनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• स्कन्धवाहान्: shoulder-bearers (pall-bearers)
• स्कन्धवाहान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्ध + वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: स्कन्धेन वहन्ति इति (bearers on the shoulder)

• गृहम्: to the house
• गृहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• नयेत्: should lead/bring
• नयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तैः: by them/with them
• तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• समुद्वर्तनम्: rubbing/massage (thorough)
• समुद्वर्तनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + उद्वर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (also/even)

• दद्युः: should give
• दद्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• स्थलजलाश्रये: at a place by land and water
• स्थलजलाश्रये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थल + जल + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (समाहार/निर्देश): स्थल-जलयोः आश्रये = 'at a place with land and water / at a waterside spot'

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after corpse-carrying/cremation return

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Maintain ritual boundaries: those who carried the corpse should cleanse outside near water; avoid bringing impurity into the home.

Vedantic Theme: Discrimination (viveka) in conduct; order (ṛta-like) expressed as dharmic boundaries.

Application: Provide oil/rubbing and washing arrangements outside the home for corpse-bearers; keep inner household space reserved for purified participants and rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: threshold/outskirts (bahir-bhūmi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.28 (rules for corpse-bearers, cleansing, and household boundaries)

Characters & Entities

• Corpse-bearers (skandhavāhāḥ)

FAQs

What is the importance of cleansing (samudvartana) for corpse-bearers in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses post-contact purification: those who carried the body should cleanse themselves outside, near a suitable ground-and-water place, maintaining household ritual purity.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

While focused on external rites, it supports the broader Preta Kanda framework where correct funeral observances and purity rules accompany the departed’s transition and protect the living from ritual impurity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

After participating in funeral handling, follow culturally appropriate purification steps (washing/cleaning outside the main living space when possible) and respect local tradition and family priest guidance.