Shloka 49
अस्मात्त्वमधिजातोसि त्वदयं जायतां पुनः / असौ स्वर्गाय लोकाय स्वाहा ज्वलति पावकः
asmāttvamadhijātosi tvadayaṃ jāyatāṃ punaḥ / asau svargāya lokāya svāhā jvalati pāvakaḥ
From this you have been duly brought forth; and from you, may this be born again. For the attainment of the heavenly world, the fire Pāvaka blazes with the utterance of “svāhā.”
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Svarga
Beneficiary: Preta (departed person)
Timing: During āhuti-mantras in cremation rite
Concept: Reciprocity of offering: from sacred fire/oblation arises benefit; through svāhā the act is sealed and directed toward higher worlds.
Vedantic Theme: Karma yields loka-phala (svarga) within saṃsāra; ritual efficacy depends on intention and mantra (saṅkalpa + śabda).
Application: Recite the mantra with correct sense of offering-causality and the svarga-intent; maintain focused saṅkalpa while making āhutis.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: yajña/pyre-fire as sacred locus
Related Themes: Garuda Purana verses connecting antyeṣṭi offerings with preta’s onward benefit and higher lokas
FAQs
This verse states that with the utterance of “svāhā,” Agni flares up and carries the offering toward its intended aim—here, the attainment of svarga—showing “svāhā” as the operative formula that completes the oblation.
By highlighting Agni and the offering-formula, the verse points to the ritual mechanism by which post-death rites (antyeṣṭi/śrāddha-related homa) generate merit and support the departed’s onward course toward higher worlds.
Perform death rites and śrāddha with correct intention and mantra-discipline, recognizing fire-offerings and “svāhā” as acts of dedicated relinquishment meant to benefit the departed and cultivate dharmic responsibility among the living.