Shloka 22

The Narrative of the Five Pretas

Eligibility for rites and jīvac-chrāddha procedure

Devanagari script

वस्त्राणि लोहखण्डानि जितं त इति संजपन् / दक्षिणाभिमुखो वह्निं ज्वालयेत्तत्र च स्वयम्

Transliteration

vastrāṇi lohakhaṇḍāni jitaṃ ta iti saṃjapan / dakṣiṇābhimukho vahniṃ jvālayettatra ca svayam

Translation

Während man das Mantra „jitaṃ ta“ („Sieg dir“) rezitiert, lege man die Gewänder und die Eisenstücke nach Vorschrift nieder; und nach Süden gewandt entzünde man dort eigenhändig das heilige Feuer.

Word by Word

• वस्त्राणि: garments, cloths
• वस्त्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), बहुवचन

• लोहखण्डानि: pieces of iron
• लोहखण्डानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह (प्रातिपदिक) + खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोहस्य खण्डाः)

• जितम्: conquered, won
• जितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु) → जित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत (past passive participle)

• त: you
• त: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; वैदिक/छान्दस रूप (त्वम्)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• संजपन्: muttering/reciting
• संजपन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + जप् (धातु) → संजपन्त् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (while muttering/reciting)

• दक्षिणाभिमुखः: facing south
• दक्षिणाभिमुखः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (दक्षिणं अभिमुखः)

• वह्निम्: fire
• वह्निम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• ज्वालयेत्: should kindle
• ज्वालयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) → ज्वालय (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

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

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

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मवाचक/स्वकृत्यबोधक (reflexive adverb)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Antyeṣṭi/pretakriyā-associated homa sequence (contextual)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness (vidhi) and intentional orientation/mantra as instruments to secure efficacy and protection in rites connected with death/transition.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as a purificatory and order-maintaining discipline; outer act (agni, mantra, dik) supports inner saṅkalpa and śuddhi.

Application: When performing prescribed rites, keep mantra, direction, and materials exact; treat fire as the central witness and purifier, and maintain mindful attention rather than mechanical action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual ground / agni-sthāna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.8.23-26 (effigy, śmāśānika homa, caru offerings, mantras to Earth/Yama)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Dakṣiṇa (southern direction, associated with Yama)

FAQs

What is the importance of facing south in Garuda Purana funeral rites?

Facing south aligns the rite with the traditional direction associated with Yama and the departed, marking the act as a death-rite (antyeṣṭi) rather than an ordinary domestic fire ritual.

How does this verse guide the ritual sequence in Antyeṣṭi?

It specifies concrete actions—placing cloth and iron as ritual items, performing japa of a victory/warding formula, and personally kindling the fire—indicating careful, intentional initiation of the rite.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing or commissioning last rites, follow prescribed procedure with attentiveness and reverence—mantra, directionality, and proper initiation—rather than treating the ritual as a mere formality.