Shloka 86

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

वाससी परिधार्याथ धौते तु शुचि नी शुभे / दर्भाण्यादौ समास्तीर्य दक्षिणाग्रान्विकीर्य च

Transliteration

vāsasī paridhāryātha dhaute tu śuci nī śubhe / darbhāṇyādau samāstīrya dakṣiṇāgrānvikīrya ca

Translation

Dann, nachdem man zwei gewaschene Gewänder angelegt hat — rein und glückverheißend — soll man zuerst Darbha-Gras ausbreiten und es so streuen, dass seine Spitzen nach Süden weisen.

Word by Word

• वाससी: two garments
• वाससी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन

• परिधार्य: having put on
• परिधार्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + धृ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/क्त्वार्थीय अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): having put on

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then)

• धौते: washed
• धौते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धौत (प्रातिपदिक; धाव्/धौ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन (वाससी इति विशेष्ये)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• शुचिनी: clean, pure
• शुचिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; विशेषण (pure)

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; विशेषण (auspicious)

• दर्भाणि: darbha grasses
• दर्भाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• आदौ: at the beginning/first
• आदौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (at first/at the beginning)

• समास्तीर्य: having spread (them) evenly
• समास्तीर्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्तॄ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): having spread out properly

• दक्षिणाग्रान्: with tips toward the south
• दक्षिणाग्रान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; दर्भान् इति विशेष्ये (having tips to the south)

• विकीर्य: having scattered
• विकीर्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + कृ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): having strewn/scattered

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual śauca and dik-niyama (directional rule): purity of clothing and correct placement of darbha establish a sanctified field for transition rites.

Vedantic Theme: Outer order supports inner steadiness; niyama as a support for sattva at liminal moments.

Application: Use clean garments; prepare a designated clean area; follow directional conventions of the tradition to reduce confusion and maintain sanctity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household-ritual ground/altar space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.85 (bathing/purification); Garuda Purana 2.32.87 (tila on gomaya-smeared ground)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Darbha

FAQs

What is the importance of clean, washed garments in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse emphasizes śauca (ritual purity): wearing washed, clean, auspicious cloth is presented as a prerequisite before beginning preta-kriyā steps.

Why is darbha grass spread with its tips facing south in these rites?

The verse instructs arranging darbha with south-facing tips, aligning the ritual setup with the southern direction traditionally associated with Yama and ancestral/funeral contexts in śrāddha and antyeṣṭi-related procedures.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and intentionality in sacred actions: begin important rites or prayers with physical cleanliness and a properly prepared, respectful ritual space.