Shloka 44

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

पुष्पाक्षतैश्च सम्पूज्य देवं क्रव्यादसंज्ञकम् / त्वं भूतकृज्जगद्योने त्वं लोकपरिपालकः

Transliteration

puṣpākṣataiśca sampūjya devaṃ kravyādasaṃjñakam / tvaṃ bhūtakṛjjagadyone tvaṃ lokaparipālakaḥ

Translation

Having duly worshipped the deity known as Kravyāda with flowers and akṣata (unbroken rice-grains), one should pray: “You are the creator of beings, the womb of the universe; you are the protector and guardian of the worlds.”

Word by Word

• पुष्पाक्षतैः: with flowers and unbroken rice grains
• पुष्पाक्षतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (पुष्पाणि च अक्षताः च)

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

• सम्पूज्य: having duly worshipped
• सम्पूज्य: Kriya (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु) → सम्पूज्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: अव्यय-भावे कृदन्त (gerund, ल्यप्): ‘having worshipped’

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्रव्यादसंज्ञकम्: named ‘Kravyāda’
• क्रव्यादसंज्ञकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रव्याद (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठीभाव: ‘क्रव्याद’ इति संज्ञा यस्य; विशेषण (devam)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भूतकृत्: creator of beings
• भूतकृत्: Karta (Predicate-noun/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘भूतानि करोति’

• जगद्योने: O source of the world
• जगद्योने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः योनि:)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लोकपरिपालकः: protector of the worlds
• लोकपरिपालकः: Karta (Predicate-noun/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + परि + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य परिपालकः)

Speaker

Narrator voice within Lord Vishnu’s instruction to Garuda (Vinata-putra), giving a ritual formula/prayer

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately before body-offering/cremation ignition sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Seeing Agni/Kravyāda as a divine cosmic principle transforms a fearful act into worship and surrender

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin-bhāva: the divine as immanent power sustaining and dissolving worlds

Application: Offer flowers and akṣata with reverent stuti, cultivating devotion and steadiness during antyeṣṭi

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-fire site

Cross References

Related Themes: 2.15.45 continuation: request to lead the dead to svarga; body-offering; Garuda Purana passages identifying Agni’s role in antyeṣṭi and preta transition

Characters & Entities

• Kravyāda (a deity/fiery protective power invoked in rites)

FAQs

What is the importance of worship with flowers and akṣata in Garuda Purana rites?

This verse presents puṣpa (flowers) and akṣata (unbroken grains) as standard purity-offerings used to complete a proper worship (sampūjā) before reciting a protective prayer in preta-related contexts.

Who is Kravyāda and why is he invoked here?

Kravyāda is invoked as a powerful protective deity/fiery force; the prayer identifies him with cosmic functions—creator, source of the universe, and guardian—so the rite seeks protection and order when dealing with death-impurity and spirit-related disturbances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform rituals with cleanliness, intention, and reverence—offer simple pure items (flowers, akṣata) and align the mind with protection of the world and well-being of all, rather than fear-based practice.