Shloka 99

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

Devanagari script

पृथक् चितां समारुह्य न प्रिया गन्तुमर्हति / क्षत्त्रियाद्याः सवर्णाश्च आरोहेयुरपीह ताः

Transliteration

pṛthak citāṃ samāruhya na priyā gantumarhati / kṣattriyādyāḥ savarṇāśca āroheyurapīha tāḥ

Translation

Einen separaten Scheiterhaufen zu besteigen, ist der geliebten Ehefrau nicht gestattet (um mit ihm zu sterben). Hierbei sollten Frauen derselben sozialen Klasse – beginnend mit Kṣatriyas und anderen – den Scheiterhaufen ebenfalls nicht besteigen.

Word by Word

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Sambandha (Modifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: separately)

• चिताम्: funeral pyre
• चिताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• समारुह्य: having mounted/ascended
• समारुह्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + आ + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negator/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• प्रिया: the beloved wife
• प्रिया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• गन्तुम्: to go
• गन्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• अर्हति: is fit/ought
• अर्हति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• क्षत्त्रियाद्याः: Kshatriya women and others
• क्षत्त्रियाद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्रिय + आदि (प्रातिपदिक; तत्पुरुष-समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• सवर्णाः: of the same caste/class
• सवर्णाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (विशेषण)

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

• आरोहेयुः: should ascend
• आरोहेयुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Modifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (also/even)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here)

• ताः: those (women)
• ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately around antyeṣṭi (funeral context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prohibition against the wife ascending a separate pyre; extends as a general restriction for women of corresponding varṇa (beginning with Kṣatriyas, etc.).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as restraint (niyama) governing intense grief; prioritizing prescribed rites over impulsive acts.

Application: Follow lawful funeral procedures; protect vulnerable persons during bereavement; interpret as discouraging self-harm and emphasizing orderly rites for the deceased.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: śmaśāna (cremation ground)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.100 (scope/conditions of the rule); Garuda Purana 2.4.101 (request for cremation details)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What does this verse say about a wife ascending the funeral pyre in the Garuda Purana?

It explicitly states that the beloved wife is not permitted to mount a separate pyre to die, and it extends the prohibition to women of the same class as well.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals (antyeṣṭi)?

It functions as a rule within antyeṣṭi guidance, clarifying what is not dharmically sanctioned during cremation rites—namely, the act of women ascending the pyre.

What is a practical takeaway from this verse for ethical living or ritual observance today?

Follow dharmic, non-harmful bereavement practices: perform prescribed funeral rites for the deceased while protecting the living and upholding compassionate social duty.