Shloka 89

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

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

Devanagari script

विधेया सन्निधौ सर्पिर्दीपं प्रज्वालयेत्पुनः / नमो भगवते वासुदेवायेति जपस्तथा

Transliteration

vidheyā sannidhau sarpirdīpaṃ prajvālayetpunaḥ / namo bhagavate vāsudevāyeti japastathā

Translation

Then, in the prescribed presence of the rite, one should again light a ghee-lamp; and likewise repeat the japa: “Oṁ, salutations to the Blessed Lord Vāsudeva.”

Word by Word

• vidheyā: should be arranged/done
• vidheyā: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√dhā (धातु) → vidheya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive: ‘to be done/should be arranged’)

• sannidhau: in the presence (nearby)
• sannidhau: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sannidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• sarpiḥ: ghee
• sarpiḥ: Karta (Instrumental material/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpiṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• dīpam: lamp
• dīpam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• prajvālayet: should light
• prajvālayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√jval (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: ‘cause to burn’ = light)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक (adverb)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (Salutation formula)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात; सामान्यतः चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे प्रयुज्यते

• bhagavate: to the Blessed Lord
• bhagavate: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• vāsudevāya: to Vāsudeva
• vāsudevāya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक (quotative particle)

• japaḥ: repetition (japa)
• japaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘so/likewise’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nāma-japa of Vāsudeva and maintaining sacred presence (dīpa) stabilize mind and direct it toward the Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Smaraṇa as upāya: fixing citta on Īśvara reduces fear and supports sattva at antima-kāla.

Application: Keep a steady lamp and softly repeat ‘namo bhagavate vāsudevāya’ near the departing; prioritize calm repetition over elaborate performance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.88 (antima-kāla supports); Garuda Purana 2.32.90-92 (praṇava, worship, charity, detachment)

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva

FAQs

What is the importance of lighting a ghee lamp in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse prescribes re-lighting a ghee-lamp as part of the proper rite, emphasizing ritual correctness and a sattvic offering that supports prayerful focus during post-death observances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

By pairing a ritual act (the ghee-lamp) with japa of Vāsudeva’s name, the verse points to devotional remembrance and orderly rites as supports for the departed in the preta-related sequence taught in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform prescribed duties carefully, and combine external observance with sincere mantra repetition—especially the Vāsudeva salutation—as a disciplined way to keep devotion and mindfulness central.