Shloka 93

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

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

Devanagari script

उच्चैः पुरुषसूक्तं च यदि श्रेष्ठापदस्तदा / पुत्त्राद्याः प्रपठेयुस्ते म्रियमाणे निजे जने

Transliteration

uccaiḥ puruṣasūktaṃ ca yadi śreṣṭhāpadastadā / puttrādyāḥ prapaṭheyuste mriyamāṇe nije jane

Translation

Wenn der Sterbende die heiligen Worte noch aussprechen kann, soll das Puruṣa-Sūkta laut rezitiert werden; in jener Stunde, da ein eigener Angehöriger im Sterben liegt, sollen die Söhne und die übrigen Familienmitglieder es für ihn sprechen.

Word by Word

• उच्चैः: aloud, loudly
• उच्चैः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उच्चैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• पुरुषसूक्तम्: the Puruṣa-sūkta hymn
• पुरुषसूक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + सूक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुरुषस्य सूक्तम्)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक/conjunction)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition marker/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (शर्तसूचक/conditional particle)

• श्रेष्ठापदः: the best/most eminent person
• श्रेष्ठापदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (श्रेष्ठस्य पदः)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (Temporal adverb/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक/adverb of time)

• पुत्त्राद्याः: sons and others (relatives)
• पुत्त्राद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (पुत्राः आदयः)

• प्रपठेयुः: should recite
• प्रपठेयुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• म्रियमाणे: while (someone) is dying
• म्रियमाणे: Adhikarana (Locative circumstance/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु) + यमान (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निजे: one's own
• निजे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (जने)

• जने: person
• जने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: dying relative (sva-jana)

Timing: Antima-kāla (when death is imminent)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śruti-recitation at death supports right remembrance and steadies the departing mind.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and smṛti at the final moment as a proximate aid toward higher gati.

Application: At a relative’s deathbed, recite Puruṣa Sūkta audibly; if the dying can speak, encourage their own utterance; maintain calm, focused attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/deathbed setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.94-97 (continuation of deathbed rites and their fruits); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: emphasis on smaraṇa and rites at antima-kāla (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Purusha (as in Purusha Sukta)

FAQs

What is the importance of chanting the Puruṣa Sūkta in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse presents Puruṣa Sūkta as a recommended Vedic recitation at the deathbed, serving as a sacred support for the departing person and a dharmic duty for the family.

How does this verse explain what family members should do when a relative is dying?

It specifically assigns the act of recitation to “sons and others,” implying that if the dying person cannot recite well, relatives should chant aloud on his behalf at the final moment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a calm, prayerful environment at the bedside and arrange simple, audible Vedic/holy recitation (traditionally Puruṣa Sūkta) by family or a qualified chanter, focusing on support and dignity in the last moments.