Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

(अथ शवाविधिः) / शवस्य शिबिकायां करचरणबन्धनं तत्र कर्तव्यम् / एवं चेन्न विधानं विधीयते तत्पिशाचपरिभवनम्

Transliteration

(atha śavāvidhiḥ) / śavasya śibikāyāṃ karacaraṇabandhanaṃ tatra kartavyam / evaṃ cenna vidhānaṃ vidhīyate tatpiśācaparibhavanam

Translation

Nun zur Vorschrift bezüglich des Leichnams: Wenn der Körper auf die Bahre (śibikā) gelegt wird, sind dort die Hände und Füße zu binden. Wird diese vorgeschriebene Anordnung nicht in dieser Weise ausgeführt, führt dies zu Belästigung und Entwürdigung durch piśācas (bösartige Geister).

Word by Word

• atha: now
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भार्थक (now/then)

• śava-vidhiḥ: procedure regarding the corpse
• śava-vidhiḥ: Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śava (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: शवस्य विधिः

• śavasya: of the corpse
• śavasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (Gen. Sg.)

• śibikāyām: on/in the bier/palanquin
• śibikāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śibikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. Sg.)

• kara-caraṇa-bandhanam: binding of the hands and feet
• kara-caraṇa-bandhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक) + caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bandhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (itaretara) within: कर-चरण (hands and feet) + तत्पुरुष: (करचरणयोः) बन्धनम्

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there/in that context)

• kartavyam: should be done
• kartavyam: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be done’

• evaṃ: thus
• evaṃ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• cet: if
• cet: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (if)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• vidhānam: the prescribed arrangement/procedure
• vidhānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• vidhīyate: is carried out/prescribed
• vidhīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धा धातु) + vi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): ‘is prescribed/is performed’

• tat-piśāca-paribhavanam: (it results in) harassment/overpowering by piśācas
• tat-piśāca-paribhavanam: Phala (फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + piśāca (प्रातिपदिक) + paribhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: तेन (तत्) पिशाचैः परिभवनम् / पिशाचपरिभवनम् (being overpowered/insulted by piśācas)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Antyeṣṭi procedures are protective; neglect of prescribed corpse-handling invites malevolent interference (piśāca-paribhava).

Vedantic Theme: Liminal impurity (aśauca) requires saṃskāra and niyama; order counters chaos in transitional states.

Application: During bier placement, bind hands and feet as prescribed; follow established antyeṣṭi protocol to prevent ritual/psychological disturbance and maintain dignity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: cremation-ground liminal space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śava-vidhi and rakṣā measures against bhūta/piśāca in funeral contexts (adjacent sections)

Characters & Entities

• Piśācas

FAQs

What is the importance of śava-vidhi (corpse procedure) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames śava-vidhi as a protective and rule-bound part of antyeṣṭi: specific actions (like binding hands and feet on the bier) are prescribed to prevent negative spirit interference and preserve ritual order.

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes that the immediate post-death period is vulnerable, and correct rites around the body support a disturbance-free transition, aligning the funeral process with dharmic safeguards described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow competent, tradition-based funeral guidance and perform rites carefully and respectfully; the takeaway is disciplined observance of prescribed procedures rather than improvisation during last rites.