Shloka 55

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

घृतं नाभ्यां प्रदेयं स्यात्कौपीने च त्रपु स्मृतम् / मौक्तिकं स्तनयोर्मूर्ध्नि कुङ्कुमेन विलेपनम्

Transliteration

ghṛtaṃ nābhyāṃ pradeyaṃ syātkaupīne ca trapu smṛtam / mauktikaṃ stanayormūrdhni kuṅkumena vilepanam

Translation

Am Nabel soll Ghee (ghṛta) aufgetragen werden; und für den Lendenschurz (kaupīna) ist Zinn (trapu) vorgeschrieben. Perlen sind auf die Brust zu legen, und das Haupt ist mit Kuṅkuma (Safran) zu salben.

Word by Word

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom/Acc singular

• नाभ्याम्: with/at the two navels (navel area)
• नाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Instrumental dual

• प्रदेयम्: to be offered/placed
• प्रदेयम्: Karya (कार्य/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु) + य (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्/अनीयर्-भाव), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; gerundive ‘to be given/placed’

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd sg optative

• कौपीने: in the loincloth
• कौपीने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौपीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular

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

• त्रपु: tin (metal)
• त्रपु: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom/Acc singular

• स्मृतम्: is stated/considered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is said/remembered’

• मौक्तिकम्: pearl
• मौक्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौक्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom/Acc singular

• स्तनयोः: of the two breasts
• स्तनयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Genitive dual

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• कुङ्कुमेन: with saffron/vermilion
• कुङ्कुमेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• विलेपनम्: anointing/smearing
• विलेपनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-लिप् (धातु) + अन (ल्युट्)
• Form: ल्युट्-प्रत्यय (action noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘smearing/anointing’

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During preta-period śrāddha/ancillary rites involving upacāra-like provisions.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual purity and completeness are expressed through anointing and adornment; offerings function as compassionate dharma toward the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as preparatory/auxiliary within saṃsāra; sanctification of transient embodiment while remembering impermanence.

Application: Perform rites with cleanliness and right materials; let ritual care become a disciplined expression of remembrance and responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.40 sequence of body-part offerings and adornments (surrounding verses).; Garuda Purana śrāddha sections describing materials (ghṛta, gandha, vastra) and their merits.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of applying ghee at the navel in Garuda Purana rites?

This verse treats it as a prescribed funerary application (a ritual saṃskāra detail) to be performed on the body, indicating careful, rule-based preparation in antyeṣṭi-related observances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct external rites and prescribed items, it reflects the Preta Kanda’s broader framework that orderly rituals support the deceased’s transition through the post-death stages described in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing traditional funeral observances, follow the guidance of competent priests and local śāstric custom; the takeaway is disciplined adherence to dharmic procedure rather than improvisation in rites for the departed.