Shloka 35

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

दग्धे देहे च वह्नौ च जलेनैव तु तर्पितः / स्नेहस्नानं जलेनैव पूपकैः कृशरैर्गृहे

Transliteration

dagdhe dehe ca vahnau ca jalenaiva tu tarpitaḥ / snehasnānaṃ jalenaiva pūpakaiḥ kṛśarairgṛhe

Translation

Wenn der Leib im Feuer verbrannt ist, soll der Verstorbene allein durch Wasseropfer gesättigt werden. Auch der Ritus des ‘Ölbades’ nach der Verbrennung wird mit Wasser vollzogen; und im Haus soll man rituelle Speisen darbringen, wie pūpaka-Kuchen und kṛśarā (Reis mit Hülsenfrüchten).

Word by Word

• dagdhe: when burnt
• dagdhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dah (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular; 'when/with (the body) burnt' (locative absolute sense with dehe)

• dehe: in the body / when the body
• dehe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vahnau: in fire
• vahnau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• jalena: with water
• jalena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (contrast)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle

• tarpitaḥ: is satisfied/propitiated
• tarpitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता, implied 'he is')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛp (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• sneha-snānam: oil-bath
• sneha-snānam: Karma (कर्म/object, implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; Tatpuruṣa: snehena snānam / snehasya snānam (oil-bath)

• jalena: with water
• jalena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• eva: only
• eva: Sambandha (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle

• pūpakaiḥ: with cakes
• pūpakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/means of offering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kṛśaraiḥ: with kṛśara (rice-porridge)
• kṛśaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛśara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• gṛhe: in the house
• gṛhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-cremation (immediately after burning; continuing at home)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After cremation, the departed is satisfied primarily through water offerings; purification and feeding rites continue at home with prescribed foods.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual purification (śauca) and continuity of duty after death; karma-kāṇḍa as a stabilizing order for the living and the departed.

Application: Perform post-cremation tarpaṇa with water; conduct the prescribed ‘oil-bath’ substitute with water; offer suitable ritual foods (pūpaka, kṛśarā) at home.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: cremation ground and household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: post-cremation tarpaṇa and śauca procedures; Garuda Purana śrāddha sections listing naivedya items and home rites

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of offering water (tarpana) after cremation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that once the body is burned, the departed is to be propitiated primarily through water offerings, emphasizing water as the key medium for post-cremation satisfaction rites.

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

By shifting the rite from the physical body to water-offerings and simple home offerings, the verse implies the departed is now approached through subtle/ritual means rather than bodily care—consistent with the Preta-stage focus of the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

After funeral/cremation rites, prioritize prescribed water offerings with sincerity and keep the home observances simple and sattvic (e.g., traditional foods mentioned), focusing on faith, restraint, and respectful remembrance.