Shloka 85

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

आसन्नमरणं ज्ञात्वा पुरुषं स्नापयेत्ततः / गोमूत्रगोमयसुमृत्तीर्थोदककुशोदकैः

Transliteration

āsannamaraṇaṃ jñātvā puruṣaṃ snāpayettataḥ / gomūtragomayasumṛttīrthodakakuśodakaiḥ

Translation

Knowing that a man’s death is near, one should then bathe him—using cow’s urine, water mixed with cow-dung, well-purified earth (clay), sacred tīrtha-water, and water infused with kuśa grass.

Word by Word

• आसन्नमरणम्: imminent death
• आसन्नमरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• पुरुषम्: the man/person
• पुरुषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• स्नापयेत्: should cause (him) to bathe
• स्नापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative: cause to bathe)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक अव्यय (then/from that)

• गोमूत्र: cow-urine
• गोमूत्र: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (समासान्ते, समाहार/द्रव्य)

• गोमय: cow-dung
• गोमय: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• सुमृत्त्: good/pure clay
• सुमृत्त्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + मृत्तिका/मृत्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (समासान्ते)

• तीर्थोदक: water from a sacred ford/place
• तीर्थोदक: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• कुशोदकैः: water with kuśa-grass
• कुशोदकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (purity) and saṃskāra at antya-kāla: external purification supports inner steadiness and auspicious transition.

Vedantic Theme: Body-mind purification as an aid to sattva at the final moment; karma-yoga through dutiful service to the dying.

Application: Prepare a clean, calm environment; perform gentle bathing/cleansing with culturally appropriate purifiers; keep the person comfortable and mentally settled.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household-ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.86–87 (darbha spreading, tila placement on gomaya-smeared ground)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of bathing rituals at the time of imminent death in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames bathing as a dharmic purification step when death is near, using traditionally sanctifying substances to prepare the person for the final transition and subsequent rites.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana narrative?

In the Preta Kanda context, orderly purification and proper procedure are presented as supports for a smoother post-death passage, aligning the household’s actions with prescribed antyeṣṭi duties.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain dignity, cleanliness, and a calm sacred environment around the dying; where traditional materials are unavailable, families often emphasize respectful bathing/cleansing and prayerful intent consistent with local dharma practice.