Shloka 109

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वोचछिष्टाधरोच्छिष्टोभयोच्छिष्टास्तु ये मृताः / शस्त्रघातैर्मृता ये चास्यश्वस्पृष्टास्तथैव च

Transliteration

ūrdhvocachiṣṭādharocchiṣṭobhayocchiṣṭāstu ye mṛtāḥ / śastraghātairmṛtā ye cāsyaśvaspṛṣṭāstathaiva ca

Translation

Diejenigen, die im Zustand der Unreinheit sterben—sei es, dass der obere Teil (Mund/Kopf) befleckt ist, der untere Teil befleckt ist oder beide befleckt sind; ebenso die, die durch den Schlag von Waffen sterben, und die, die gleichermaßen von einem Pferd berührt oder niedergerissen werden—werden zu den hier beschriebenen besonderen Arten des Todes gezählt.

Word by Word

• ऊर्ध्व-उच्छिष्ट: those with impurity above (e.g., on upper part)
• ऊर्ध्व-उच्छिष्ट: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-विशेषण) — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; कर्मधारयः (ऊर्ध्वं उच्छिष्टं येषाम्/ऊर्ध्वोच्छिष्टः)

• अधर-उच्छिष्ट: those with impurity below
• अधर-उच्छिष्ट: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधर (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; कर्मधारयः

• उभय-उच्छिष्टाः: those impure on both sides
• उभय-उच्छिष्टाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; तत्पुरुषः (उभयत्र उच्छिष्टाः)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात — particle (but/indeed)

• ये: who/those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural (relative pronoun)

• मृताः: dead
• मृताः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन — past participle, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शस्त्र-घातैः: by weapon-blows
• शस्त्र-घातैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; तत्पुरुषः (शस्त्रेण घातः)

• मृताः: dead
• मृताः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन — past participle, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात — conjunction

• असि-अश्व-स्पृष्टाः: touched/struck by sword or horse
• असि-अश्व-स्पृष्टाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; द्वन्द्वसमासः (असिना स्पृष्टाः वा अश्वेन स्पृष्टाः) — touched by sword or by horse

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय — adverb

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात — emphatic particle

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात — conjunction

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Modes of death—especially impure or violent—are treated as karmically and ritually consequential, affecting post-death status and rites.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle-body continuity shaped by saṃskāra and last-condition (antya-bhāva) at the empirical level.

Application: Maintain cleanliness and preparedness for death through regular dharmic living; avoid violence and reckless conduct; ensure community readiness for proper rites when possible.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.110–111 (durmarana without rites leading to naraka and preta-bhava; denial/alteration of rites); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta classifications by death-type (general)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of describing 'impure deaths' (ucchiṣṭa-mṛtyu) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists specific categories of death considered ritually impure or violent, which the text treats as requiring special attention in post-death rites and in describing the preta-condition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after a violent or impure death?

By classifying such deaths, the Garuda Purana indicates that the preta-journey and its difficulties vary with the manner of death; violent/impure conditions are singled out as significant factors in the after-death state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages careful observance of death-related rites and purification practices for the departed, and reminds families to respond promptly with prescribed śrāddha/antyeṣṭi supports when death is sudden, violent, or occurred under impurity.