Shloka 111

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

Devanagari script

न तेषां कारयेद्दाहं सूतकं नोदकक्रियाम् / न विधानं मृताद्यञ्च न कुर्या दौर्ध्वदैहिकम्

Transliteration

na teṣāṃ kārayeddāhaṃ sūtakaṃ nodakakriyām / na vidhānaṃ mṛtādyañca na kuryā daurdhvadaihikam

Translation

For such persons one should not arrange cremation, nor observe sūtaka (ritual impurity), nor perform the water-rites (udaka-kriyā). Nor should one undertake the prescribed ceremonies beginning with death, nor perform the aurdhva-dehika, the post-funeral rites meant for the departed.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय — negation

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• कारयेत्: should cause (to be done)
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) [णिच्]
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, 3rd person, Singular; णिजन्त (causative)

• दाहम्: cremation/burning
• दाहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सूतकम्: impurity period (sūtaka)
• सूतकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• न: nor/not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय — negation

• उदक-क्रियाम्: water-rite (libations etc.)
• उदक-क्रियाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (उदकस्य क्रिया)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय — negation

• विधानम्: prescribed procedure
• विधानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मृत-आदि: death-related rites etc.
• मृत-आदि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (मृतं आदिः यस्य) — death etc. (funeral matters)

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

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय — negation

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, 3rd person, Singular

• दौर्ध्व-दैहिकम्: post-death (dauḥrdhva-daehika) rites
• दौर्ध्व-दैहिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दौर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दैहिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (ऊर्ध्वं देहं प्रति/देहानन्तरं दैहिकम्) — post-funeral rite

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after death and in the post-funeral sequence (udaka-kriyā; aurdhva-dehika period).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain categories of death/persons are excluded from standard cremation, aśauca observance, water-rites, and aurdhva-dehika—indicating strict ritual boundaries.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as social-ritual order governing transitions; distinction between ultimate self and ritual eligibility at empirical level.

Application: Follow tradition-specific guidance for exceptional deaths; consult competent authorities (ācārya/purohita) to avoid harmful or invalid rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.110 (durmarana and consequences); Garuda Purana śrāddha/antyeṣṭi sections describing aurdhva-dehika and udaka-kriyā (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of prohibiting certain death rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that dharma is contextual: for certain categories of individuals (described in the surrounding verses), standard funeral rites like cremation, sūtaka, water offerings, and aurdhva-dehika ceremonies are not to be performed, indicating ritual ineligibility based on prescribed rules.

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

By stating that aurdhva-dehika rites should not be done for “such persons,” the verse implies that the usual ritual supports given to the departed (through water rites and post-funeral offerings) are withheld, reflecting a distinct karmic/ritual status that affects how the dead are ritually related to the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow tradition with informed guidance: when questions arise about eligibility for funeral rites, consult competent dharma authorities (family priest/ācārya) rather than applying one uniform procedure to every case.