Shloka 114

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

Devanagari script

तथा तेषां भवेच्छौचं नान्यथेत्यब्रवीद्यमः / कृते नारायणबलावौर्ध्वदेहिकयोग्यता

Transliteration

tathā teṣāṃ bhavecchaucaṃ nānyathetyabravīdyamaḥ / kṛte nārāyaṇabalāvaurdhvadehikayogyatā

Translation

“Therefore, for them, śauca—ritual purity—must be observed, and never otherwise,” declared Yama. “When the Nārāyaṇa-bali rite is duly performed, one becomes fit for the subsequent post-death rites (ūrdhva-dehika).”

Word by Word

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थ (in that manner/so)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• भवेत्: should be; would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शौचम्: purity; purification
• शौचम्: Karya (Result/कार्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्तृ/कर्म-स्थान (predicate noun)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थ (otherwise)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्ति निपात (quotative particle)

• अब्रवीत्: said; spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (अनद्यतन भूत/imperf.), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता

• कृते: when (it is) done
• कृते: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (कृत), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/सप्तमी-तुल्ये (locative absolute sense), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (when done)

• नारायणबलौ: in/with the Nārāyaṇa-bali (rite)
• नारायणबलौ: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नारायणस्य बलिः)

• और्ध्वदेहिकयोग्यता: fitness/eligibility for post-death rites
• और्ध्वदेहिकयोग्यता: Karya (Result/कार्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: और्ध्वदेहिक (प्रातिपदिक) + योग्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (और्ध्वदेहिकस्य योग्यता)

Speaker

Yama

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Before undertaking ūrdhva-dehika rites; after observing śauca

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (purificatory observance) must be properly maintained; Nārāyaṇa-bali, when duly performed, grants eligibility for subsequent post-death rites.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual purity and adhikāra (eligibility) as conditions for effective karma-kāṇḍa; Nārāyaṇa as the sanctifying principle enabling orderly transition.

Application: Observe prescribed impurity rules (aśauca/śauca) and complete Nārāyaṇa-bali before proceeding to ūrdhva-dehika śrāddhas; consult tradition-specific kalpa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: court/realm of judgment (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Yama’s teachings on śrāddha correctness and preta welfare; Immediate context 2.4.113–116 on Nārāyaṇa-bali, tīrtha performance, and tarpaṇa

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Narayana (as Nārāyaṇa-bali)

FAQs

What is the importance of śauca (ritual purity) in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Yama’s directive that śauca must be observed properly and not “otherwise,” indicating that correct purity observances are foundational for post-death rites to be valid.

How does this verse explain eligibility for the soul-related rites after death?

It states that once Nārāyaṇa-bali is performed, the departed (and the ritual process on their behalf) becomes qualified for ūrdhva-dehika rites—i.e., the subsequent ceremonies conducted after the initial funeral observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow established śauca guidelines and perform prescribed rites in the proper sequence (as per one’s tradition and priestly guidance), emphasizing sincerity, cleanliness, and procedural correctness in memorial rituals.