Shloka 109

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

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वोचछिष्टाधरोच्छिष्टोभयोच्छिष्टास्तु ये मृताः / शस्त्रघातैर्मृता ये चास्यश्वस्पृष्टास्तथैव च

Transliteration

ūrdhvocachiṣṭādharocchiṣṭobhayocchiṣṭāstu ye mṛtāḥ / śastraghātairmṛtā ye cāsyaśvaspṛṣṭāstathaiva ca

Translation

Those who die in a state of impurity—whether with the upper part (mouth/head) defiled, the lower part defiled, or both defiled; as well as those who die from the blow of weapons, and those who are likewise struck down by a horse—are counted among the special classes of deaths described here.

Word by Word

• ऊर्ध्व-उच्छिष्ट: those with impurity above (e.g., on upper part)
• ऊर्ध्व-उच्छिष्ट: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-विशेषण) — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; कर्मधारयः (ऊर्ध्वं उच्छिष्टं येषाम्/ऊर्ध्वोच्छिष्टः)

• अधर-उच्छिष्ट: those with impurity below
• अधर-उच्छिष्ट: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधर (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; कर्मधारयः

• उभय-उच्छिष्टाः: those impure on both sides
• उभय-उच्छिष्टाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; तत्पुरुषः (उभयत्र उच्छिष्टाः)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात — particle (but/indeed)

• ये: who/those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural (relative pronoun)

• मृताः: dead
• मृताः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन — past participle, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शस्त्र-घातैः: by weapon-blows
• शस्त्र-घातैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; तत्पुरुषः (शस्त्रेण घातः)

• मृताः: dead
• मृताः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन — past participle, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural (relative pronoun)

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

• असि-अश्व-स्पृष्टाः: touched/struck by sword or horse
• असि-अश्व-स्पृष्टाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; द्वन्द्वसमासः (असिना स्पृष्टाः वा अश्वेन स्पृष्टाः) — touched by sword or by horse

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात — emphatic particle

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Modes of death—especially impure or violent—are treated as karmically and ritually consequential, affecting post-death status and rites.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle-body continuity shaped by saṃskāra and last-condition (antya-bhāva) at the empirical level.

Application: Maintain cleanliness and preparedness for death through regular dharmic living; avoid violence and reckless conduct; ensure community readiness for proper rites when possible.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.110–111 (durmarana without rites leading to naraka and preta-bhava; denial/alteration of rites); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta classifications by death-type (general)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of describing 'impure deaths' (ucchiṣṭa-mṛtyu) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists specific categories of death considered ritually impure or violent, which the text treats as requiring special attention in post-death rites and in describing the preta-condition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after a violent or impure death?

By classifying such deaths, the Garuda Purana indicates that the preta-journey and its difficulties vary with the manner of death; violent/impure conditions are singled out as significant factors in the after-death state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages careful observance of death-related rites and purification practices for the departed, and reminds families to respond promptly with prescribed śrāddha/antyeṣṭi supports when death is sudden, violent, or occurred under impurity.