Shloka 48
जातवेदोमुके देया एका प्रेतमुखे तथा / ऊर्ध्वं तु ज्वालयेद्वह्निं पूर्वभागे चितां पुनः
jātavedomuke deyā ekā pretamukhe tathā / ūrdhvaṃ tu jvālayedvahniṃ pūrvabhāge citāṃ punaḥ
One firebrand should be placed at the mouth of Jātavedas, the consecrated fire, and likewise one at the mouth of the preta. Then the fire should be kindled upward, and again the pyre should be ignited on its eastern side.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Beneficiary: Preta (departed person)
Timing: At ignition of the pyre (antyeṣṭi)
Concept: Correct orientation and ignition points sacralize the act; the rite is not mere burning but a yajña-like transfer.
Vedantic Theme: Ritual order (niyama) as participation in cosmic order; the body is offered, not discarded.
Application: Place ignition at the consecrated fire’s ‘mouth’ and at the preta’s mouth; kindle upward and ignite the eastern side of the pyre as prescribed.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: shmashana (pyre) with consecrated fire (jātavedas)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana antyeṣṭi procedural verses on lighting the pyre and directional rules
FAQs
This verse frames Agni as the consecrated carrier of the rite: ignition is first offered to Jātavedas and then applied to the departed, indicating that cremation is performed through sacred fire, not merely physical burning.
It specifies a ritual sequence—placing a firebrand at the ‘mouth’ of the sacred fire and at the departed’s mouth, then kindling the fire upward and igniting the pyre from the eastern side—showing an ordered, directional procedure in antyeṣṭi.
Follow last rites with clarity and reverence: treat cremation as a sacred, rule-guided transition (not a casual act), and when possible rely on trained priests/family elders to preserve the intended ritual order.