Shloka 100

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

चाण्डालीमवधिं कृत्वा ब्राह्मणीतः समो विधिः / अगर्भिणीनां सर्वासामबालताक्मे(का)नामपि

Transliteration

cāṇḍālīmavadhiṃ kṛtvā brāhmaṇītaḥ samo vidhiḥ / agarbhiṇīnāṃ sarvāsāmabālatākme(kā)nāmapi

Translation

From a Caṇḍāla woman up to a Brāhmaṇa woman, the prescribed rule is the same; it applies to all women who are not pregnant, and also to those who are not afflicted by childhood fever/illness.

Word by Word

• चाण्डालीम्: a Caṇḍālī woman
• चाण्डालीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अवधिम्: as the limit/up to
• अवधिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made/setting
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund)

• ब्राह्मणीतः: from a Brāhmaṇī woman
• ब्राह्मणीतः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• समः: equal/same
• समः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (विधिः इति विशेषण)

• विधिः: rule/ritual procedure
• विधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• अगर्भिणीनाम्: of non-pregnant (women)
• अगर्भिणीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + गर्भिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• सर्वासाम्: of all
• सर्वासाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (विशेषण)

• अबालताक्मेकानाम्: of those who are not (in the state of) childhood-fever/illness (i.e., not suffering from bāla-tākme(ka))
• अबालताक्मेकानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + बाल + ताक्मेक (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि-समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (स्त्रीणाम् अव्यक्तम्; ‘those who are not…’)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (also)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A single prescribed rule applies across social strata; it is conditioned by pregnancy and illness (exemptions/constraints), emphasizing bodily protection and ritual propriety.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as context-sensitive regulation of action; recognition of embodied constraints (śarīra-dharma) within ritual life.

Application: Apply rules uniformly without discrimination while honoring health-based exemptions; protect pregnant/ill persons from harmful rites; prioritize care during vulnerable states.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: śmaśāna / antyeṣṭi-sthāna (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.99 (prohibition context); Garuda Purana 2.4.101 (transition to detailed cremation procedure)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Women (across varnas/jatis)

FAQs

What is the importance of uniform ritual rules in this Garuda Purana verse?

It states that the same procedural injunction applies broadly without discrimination—from the lowest social designation up to a Brāhmaṇa—highlighting equal applicability of the rule being taught.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on death rituals?

In the Preta Kanda’s ritual-legal context, it clarifies eligibility/conditions for applying a prescribed rite or rule, specifying exclusions like pregnancy and certain childhood illnesses.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When following traditional rites, prioritize clear eligibility and health/safety constraints, and avoid caste-based exclusion where the text itself asserts equal applicability of the injunction.