Shloka 93

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

Devanagari script

तत्र सा भर्तृपरमा स्तूयमानाप्सरोगणैः / क्रीडते पतिना सार्धं यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्दश

Transliteration

tatra sā bhartṛparamā stūyamānāpsarogaṇaiḥ / krīḍate patinā sārdhaṃ yāvadindrāścaturdaśa

Translation

Dort wird jene Frau — ihrem Gatten über alles ergeben — von Scharen der Apsarās gepriesen und erfreut sich spielend mit ihrem Gemahl, solange vierzehn Indras währen (vierzehn Indra-Zyklen).

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भर्तृपरमा: supremely devoted to her husband
• भर्तृपरमा: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भर्तृ + परमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘भर्तरि परमा’ (devoted/supreme in relation to husband)

• स्तूयमाना: being praised
• स्तूयमाना: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्तु (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (शानच्/मान) ‘स्तूयमान’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अप्सरोगणैः: by groups of apsarases
• अप्सरोगणैः: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘अप्सरसां गणैः’

• क्रीडते: plays, sports
• क्रीडते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पतिना: with (her) husband
• पतिना: Sahartha (Comitative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Sahartha (Comitative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (together with)

• यावत्: as long as, until
• यावत्: Kala-avadhi (Temporal limit)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधिवाचक (until/as long as)

• इन्द्राः: Indras
• इन्द्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Visheshana (Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दशन् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या; प्रथमा, बहुवचन (इन्द्राः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pativratā devotion yields extraordinary svarga-phala—companionship with the husband and honor among apsarās for vast durations.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala in svarga is exalted yet time-bound (implied by duration), distinct from mokṣa’s permanence.

Application: Practice fidelity and ethical steadiness in relationships; understand that merit-based rewards are finite and should be oriented toward higher aims.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial court/garden (implicit)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.92 (rescue motif); Garuda Purana 2.4.94-96 (purification of sinful husband; fire-ascension and release from womanhood)

Characters & Entities

• Apsaras
• Indra

FAQs

What is the importance of pativrata (devotion to one’s husband) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents pativrata-dharma as a powerful merit: the devoted wife is honored by celestial beings and attains prolonged heavenly companionship with her husband.

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

It indicates that specific dharmic conduct yields a post-death destination of svarga-like enjoyment, where the soul experiences refined pleasures and honor proportional to accumulated merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharma in relationships—faithfulness, responsibility, and mutual respect—understanding that ethical conduct is taught as producing long-term spiritual and karmic well-being.