Shloka 116

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

Devanagari script

कृष्णाग्रे कारयेद्बिप्रैर्येन पूतो भवेन्नरः / पूर्वन्तु तर्पणं कार्यं विप्रैः पौराणवैदिकैः

Transliteration

kṛṣṇāgre kārayedbiprairyena pūto bhavennaraḥ / pūrvantu tarpaṇaṃ kāryaṃ vipraiḥ paurāṇavaidikaiḥ

Translation

In the presence of Kṛṣṇa, a man should have the prescribed rite performed by brāhmaṇas, by which he becomes purified. But first, tarpaṇa—the water-offering of satisfaction—should be performed by brāhmaṇas versed in both the Purāṇas and the Vedas.

Word by Word

• कृष्णाग्रे: before Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णाग्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कृष्णस्य अग्रे = before Kṛṣṇa)

• कारयेत्: should cause to be done; should have performed
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + णिच् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: णिजन्त (causative) धातु 'कारय', विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• बिप्रैः: by Brahmins
• बिप्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध/करण (relative pronoun: by which)

• पूतः: purified
• पूतः: Karya (Result/कार्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पू (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

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

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता

• पूर्वम्: first; beforehand
• पूर्वम्: Sambandha (Time/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: first)

• तु: indeed; however
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• तर्पणम्: libation/oblatory satisfaction rite (tarpaṇa)
• तर्पणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (कार्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be done)

• विप्रैः: by Brahmins
• विप्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण

• पौराणवैदिकैः: by Brahmins versed in Purāṇic and Vedic (traditions)
• पौराणवैदिकैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौराण (प्रातिपदिक) + वैदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (पौराणाः च वैदिकाः च), विशेषण (qualifies विप्रैः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Tarpaṇa first, then the main rite; performed in Kṛṣṇa’s presence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual purification is strengthened when performed before Kṛṣṇa/Nārāyaṇa and executed by competent brāhmaṇas; tarpaṇa is a necessary preliminary.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as sanctifying context for karma; śāstra-prāmāṇya (scriptural authority) through Veda–Purāṇa concordance.

Application: Perform rites in a consecrated setting (home altar/temple), engage qualified officiants, and follow sequence: first tarpaṇa, then the main offering/rite.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: temple/shrine/ritual assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: prescriptions for tarpaṇa and qualifications of priests in śrāddha contexts; Earlier/later śrāddha chapters emphasizing Vaiṣṇava framing of post-death rites

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Brāhmaṇas
• Pitṛs (implied via tarpaṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of tarpaṇa in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse places tarpaṇa as a prior, essential step—performed first—so the subsequent rites lead to purification and proper satisfaction of the ancestral line.

How does this verse explain the correct order of śrāddha-related rites?

It explicitly states that tarpaṇa should be done first, and then the remaining purificatory rite should be carried out by qualified brāhmaṇas in a sanctified setting (here, ‘in the presence of Kṛṣṇa’).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain correct ritual sequencing and seek knowledgeable officiants (grounded in Vedic and Purāṇic practice) so ancestral offerings and purification observances are done conscientiously.