Shloka 28

The Explanation of the Post-funeral Rites (Aurdhvadehika) and Related Matters

Devanagari script

बालवृद्धातुराणाञ्च मृतानां पञ्चकेषु हि / विधानं यो न कुर्वीत विघ्नस्तस्य प्रजायते

Transliteration

bālavṛddhāturāṇāñca mṛtānāṃ pañcakeṣu hi / vidhānaṃ yo na kurvīta vighnastasya prajāyate

Translation

Wahrlich, wenn beim Tod eines Kindes, eines Greises oder eines Kranken das Pañcaka eintritt, demjenigen, der die vorgeschriebenen Observanzen nicht vollzieht, werden Hindernisse erwachsen.

Word by Word

• बाल: of children
• बाल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• वृद्ध: of the aged
• वृद्ध: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• आतुराणाम्: of the sick
• आतुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

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

• मृतानाम्: of the dead
• मृतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• पञ्चकेषु: in the five (occasions/sets)
• पञ्चकेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• विधानम्: the prescribed procedure
• विधानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• कुर्वीत: should do
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• विघ्नः: obstacle
• विघ्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• तस्य: for him/of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• प्रजायते: arises
• प्रजायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; प्र-उपसर्ग

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the pañcaka observance period connected with specific deaths (child/aged/sick).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nitya/naimittika observances after certain deaths (pañcaka) avert vighna and restore order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as harmonizing force (ṛta) that steadies the mind amid impermanence (anityatā).

Application: When pañcaka conditions apply (death of child/aged/sick), follow the prescribed observances promptly and correctly to prevent ritual/social/psychological obstacles.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-vidhi sequences around pañcaka and aśauca observances (within the same adhyāya context)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Deceased (mṛta)
• Child (bāla)
• Elder (vṛddha)

FAQs

What is the importance of pañcaka-related observances in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that when pañcaka conditions apply to a death (including child, aged, or sick persons), the prescribed vidhāna should be followed; neglect is said to generate vighna—practical and spiritual obstacles—for the responsible family/performer.

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

Within the Preta Kanda framework, correct rites are treated as dharmic supports for the deceased and the household; failing to perform them is linked here to the arising of impediments, aligning with the text’s broader theme that proper antyeṣṭi and related observances stabilize post-death transitions and family welfare.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

If a death occurs under special conditions traditionally termed pañcaka, consult a knowledgeable priest/tradition-holder and complete the appropriate funeral and follow-up observances with care, emphasizing responsibility, timely rites, and family unity to reduce avoidable complications and distress.