Shloka 46

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

अर्धदग्धे तथा देहे दद्यादाज्याहुतिं ततः / लोमभ्यः स्वोतिवाक्येन कुर्याद्धोमं यथाविधि

Transliteration

ardhadagdhe tathā dehe dadyādājyāhutiṃ tataḥ / lomabhyaḥ svotivākyena kuryāddhomaṃ yathāvidhi

Translation

If the body has been burnt only halfway, one should first offer an oblation of ghee. Thereafter, addressing the hairs with the prescribed mantra, one should perform the homa (fire-offering) properly, in accordance with rule.

Word by Word

• अर्धदग्धे: in the half-burnt (state)
• अर्धदग्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ध-दग्ध (प्रातिपदिक; दग्ध = √दह् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (locative absolute-like: 'in the half-burnt [state]')

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• देहे: in the body
• देहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give/offer
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• आज्याहुतिम्: a ghee oblation
• आज्याहुतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य-आहुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; (आज्यस्य आहुति:)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: sequence)

• लोमभ्यः: from the hairs
• लोमभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), बहुवचन

• स्वोति-वाक्येन: with the ‘svoti’ formula/utterance
• स्वोति-वाक्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वोति-वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करणम् (instrument)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• होमम्: the fire-offering (homa)
• होमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• यथा-विधि: according to rule
• यथा-विधि: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-विधि (अव्यय; विधि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: manner)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Preta (departed person)

Timing: During antyeṣṭi when cremation is incomplete/half-burnt

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual completeness (saṃskāra-siddhi) ensures proper transition of the departed and removes inauspiciousness from the living.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as a purifier (citta-śuddhi) supporting higher aims; respect for ṛta through prescribed action.

Application: If cremation is interrupted/partial, complete it with ghee oblations and the specified homa, following the mantra-vidhi rather than improvising.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: shmashana (cremation ground)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta/Antyeṣṭi sections on agni-homa and completion of cremation; Garuda Purana instructions on śrāddha and preta-śānti following antyeṣṭi

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Deha (corpse/body)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering ghee (ājya-āhuti) when the body is half-burnt in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes ājya-āhuti as a corrective ritual act to complete the cremation-saṃskāra properly, ensuring the funeral rite proceeds according to vidhi (injunction) when burning is incomplete.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, correct antyeṣṭi rites support orderly transition from the gross body’s disposal to the preta’s onward journey; the verse emphasizes finishing ritual obligations precisely so post-death rites are not left defective.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights the principle of completing last rites carefully and consulting competent priests/traditional guidelines if cremation is interrupted or incomplete, so the family’s ritual duties are fulfilled in a disciplined, dharmic way.