Shloka 22
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Renunciation, Austerities, Departure, and the Glory of Hearing His History
विधाय कृत्यं ह्रदिनीजलाप्लुता दत्त्वोदकं भर्तुरुदारकर्मण: । नत्वा दिविस्थांस्त्रिदशांस्त्रि: परीत्य विवेश वह्निं ध्यायती भर्तृपादौ ॥ २२ ॥
vidhāya kṛtyaṁ hradinī-jalāplutā dattvodakaṁ bhartur udāra-karmaṇaḥ natvā divi-sthāṁs tridaśāṁs triḥ parītya viveśa vahniṁ dhyāyatī bhartṛ-pādau
Then the Queen performed the required funeral rites and, after bathing in the river, offered the water oblation for her husband of noble deeds. Bowing to the devas in the heavens and circumambulating the fire three times, she entered the flames while meditating on her husband’s lotus feet.
The entrance of a chaste wife into the flames of the pyre of her dead husband is known as saha-gamana, which means “dying with the husband.” This system of saha-gamana had been practiced in Vedic civilization from time immemorial. Even after the British period in India this practice was rigidly observed, but soon it degraded to the point that even when the wife was not strong enough to enter the fire of her dead husband, the relatives would force her to enter. Thus this practice had to be stopped, but even today there are still some solitary cases where a wife will voluntarily enter the fire and die with her husband. Even after 1940 we personally knew of a chaste wife who died in this way.
FAQs
This verse shows Arcī entering the fire while meditating on her husband’s feet—highlighting that fixed remembrance (smaraṇa) of a pure devotee and one’s sacred duty supports a serene, devotional departure.
After completing the prescribed rites and honoring the demigods, Arcī chose a final act of faithful devotion, leaving the world in meditation upon Pṛthu Mahārāja’s lotus feet, reflecting her unwavering dedication to his spiritual path.
Perform responsibilities conscientiously, keep a life of purity and remembrance, and train the mind to focus on the Divine (and saintly devotees) so that life’s endings—big or small—are met with steadiness and devotion.