Shloka 108

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

Devanagari script

कट्वायामन्तरिक्षे च चौरचाण्डालतस्तथा / उदक्याशुनकीशूद्ररजकादिविभूषिताः

Transliteration

kaṭvāyāmantarikṣe ca cauracāṇḍālatastathā / udakyāśunakīśūdrarajakādivibhūṣitāḥ

Translation

In the Kaṭvā region and also in the mid-air (antarikṣa), there are likewise beings associated with thieves and with cāṇḍālas, marked by the company of menstruating women, female dogs, Śūdras, washermen, and the like.

Word by Word

• कट्वायाम्: in a kaṭvā (a kind of vessel/contrivance)
• कट्वायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कट्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन — Feminine, Locative, Singular

• अन्तरिक्षे: in the sky/mid-air
• अन्तरिक्षे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन — Neuter, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात — conjunction/particle

• चौर-चाण्डालतः: from thieves and caṇḍālas
• चौर-चाण्डालतः: Apadana (Source/Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौर (प्रातिपदिक) + चाण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन — Masculine, Ablative, Singular; द्वन्द्वः (चौरश्च चाण्डालश्च) — from a thief and a caṇḍāla

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय — adverb

• उदक्या: menstruating women
• उदक्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• शुनकी: female dogs/bitches
• शुनकी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुनकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• शूद्र: Śūdras
• शूद्र: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रजक: washermen
• रजक: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक/उदाहरणार्थक अव्यय — etc./and others

• विभूषिताः: adorned/associated (with)
• विभूषिताः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + भूष् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन — past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Plural; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Association (saṅga) with adharmic persons and ritually impure conditions is portrayed as spiritually perilous and linked to inauspicious states.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅga as a conditioning force shaping mind and destiny; purity/impurity as upadhi-level discipline rather than ultimate reality.

Application: Choose uplifting company, maintain ritual/ethical cleanliness, and avoid exploitative or criminal circles; treat purity rules with discernment and non-cruelty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: classifications of pretas/inauspicious deaths and locales (surrounding 2.4.107–111)

Characters & Entities

• Chora (thieves)
• Chandala (outcastes)
• Udakya (menstruating woman)
• Shunaki (female dog)
• Shudra
• Rajaka (washerman)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing such groups (thieves, cāṇḍālas, etc.) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a moral-ritual taxonomy: it marks certain after-death conditions/regions as characterized by adharma and impurity, warning that one’s conduct and associations shape the preta’s experience.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By mentioning “antarikṣa” (intermediate space), the verse situates some experiences in transitional realms of the preta-journey, where the departed encounters frightening or defiling company as a karmic result.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live honestly (avoid theft and exploitation), uphold dharma and cleanliness disciplines appropriate to one’s tradition, and keep wholesome company—because the text links moral choices with post-death consequences.