Shloka 54

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

ततो जनपदैः सर्वैर्दातव्या करतालिका / विष्णुर्विष्णुरिति ब्रूयाद्गुणैः प्रेतमुदीरयेत्

Transliteration

tato janapadaiḥ sarvairdātavyā karatālikā / viṣṇurviṣṇuriti brūyādguṇaiḥ pretamudīrayet

Translation

Then all the people of the community should clap their hands; one should say, “Vishnu, Vishnu,” and by praising His virtues, rouse and steady the preta (the departed spirit).

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक (then)

• जनपदैः: by the people
• जनपदैः: Kartr-karana (Agent-instrument/कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; करण/कर्तृसहकार (by the people/locals)

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; जनपदैः इत्यस्य विशेषण (by all)

• दातव्या: should be given
• दातव्या: Karya (Obligation/कार्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्—gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विधेय-भावः (to be given)

• करतालिका: hand-clapping (claps)
• करतालिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + तालिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (करैः तालिका—hand-clapping)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Vacya (Utterance/वाच्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; उद्धोष्य-शब्द (to be uttered)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Vacya (Utterance/वाच्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for chanting)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana-paryavasana (Quotative/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-समाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणचिह्न (thus/‘…’ as quotation)

• ब्रूयात्: should say/utter
• ब्रूयात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गुणैः: with praises/qualities
• गुणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; करण (by means of qualities/praises)

• प्रेतम्: the preta
• प्रेतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• उदीरयेत्: should rouse/encourage/raise
• उदीरयेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+ईरय् (धातु; causative of ईर्/ईर् ‘to move/raise’)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative nuance: ‘should rouse/raise’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During immediate post-cremation gathering / transitional rites when community is present.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu-nāma and guṇa-kīrtana steady the departed’s subtle state and console the living; devotion operates as a protective force in transition.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma as upāya: remembrance of the Supreme stabilizes mind and prāṇa; īśvara-smṛti amid impermanence.

Application: In funeral contexts, lead the community in simple Viṣṇu-nāma repetition and praise to create calm focus and reduce fear/confusion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: community ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Viṣṇu-nāma efficacy in pretakalpa and mokṣa-oriented sections (general internal motif)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of chanting “Vishnu, Vishnu” in Garuda Purana death rites?

This verse presents Vishnu-nama as a stabilizing, uplifting remembrance meant to support the preta’s onward transition by invoking divine qualities and auspiciousness.

How does this verse explain helping the soul in the preta state?

It describes a community action—ritual hand-clapping and praise of Vishnu’s virtues—as a means to ‘rouse’ the preta, implying guidance and encouragement for the departed to proceed on its post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a calm, devotional atmosphere around bereavement rites: collective remembrance of Vishnu (or sincere divine name-recitation) and respectful, orderly participation that supports the family and honors the departed.