Shloka 14

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

श्रीखण्डतुलसीकाष्ठसमित्पालाशसंभृताम् / विकलेन्द्रियसङ्घाते चैतन्ये जडतां गते

Transliteration

śrīkhaṇḍatulasīkāṣṭhasamitpālāśasaṃbhṛtām / vikalendriyasaṅghāte caitanye jaḍatāṃ gate

Translation

Made up of sandalwood, tulasī-wood, sacred fuel-sticks (samit), and palāśa leaves—when the aggregate of the senses has become impaired, and consciousness has lapsed into inertness.

Word by Word

• श्रीखण्डतुलसीकाष्ठसमित्पालाशसंभृताम्: collected with sandalwood, tulsi-wood, firewood, and palāśa
• श्रीखण्डतुलसीकाष्ठसमित्पालाशसंभृताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक) + काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + समित् (प्रातिपदिक) + पलाश (प्रातिपदिक) + संभृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, सम्-भृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (श्रीखण्ड-तुलसी-काष्ठ-समित्-पलाश-समूहः) + क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (संभृता = collected/arranged)

• विकल: impaired
• विकल: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (समासाङ्ग), प्रातिपदिक; विशेषण (impaired)

• इन्द्रियसङ्घाते: in the aggregate of the senses
• इन्द्रियसङ्घाते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रियाणां सङ्घातः)

• चैतन्ये: in consciousness
• चैतन्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैतन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• जडताम्: insentience/inertness
• जडताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जडता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• गते: when (it) has gone/turned into
• गते: Adhikarana (Circumstance/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (when/while having gone/when it has become)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue explaining to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During citā-sajjā (pyre preparation) at antyeṣṭi

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: As senses fail and consciousness withdraws, the body is recognized as jaḍa (inert); this supports vairāgya and discernment between ātman and deha.

Vedantic Theme: Deha-ātma-viveka and anityatā: the self is distinct from the collapsing sensory apparatus; death reveals the non-self nature of the body-mind complex.

Application: Sanctify the pyre with auspicious woods/leaves; contemplate impermanence and maintain composure, using the moment to cultivate detachment and clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: cremation ground ritual site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana discussions of deha-jaḍatā, prāṇa withdrawal, and antyeṣṭi materials (contextual within Pretakalpa/antyeṣṭi).

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of sandalwood, tulasī wood, samit, and palāśa in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse points to ritually pure, sattvic materials associated with sacred fire and auspiciousness, used in last rites (antyeṣṭi) to support proper funeral observance when the dying person’s senses and awareness are failing.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul at the time of death?

It describes the dying condition—sense faculties becoming impaired and consciousness appearing inert—setting the narrative frame in which the jīva departs and post-death rites become crucial for the preta’s onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain preparedness for end-of-life rites: keep ethical living central, and ensure family members know the basic antyeṣṭi procedures and the importance of performing them with purity and sincerity.