Shloka 117

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

Devanagari script

सर्वौषध्यक्षतैर्मिश्रैर्विष्णुमुद्दिश्य तर्पयेत् / कार्यं पुरुषसूक्तेन मन्त्रैर्वा वैष्णवैरपि

Transliteration

sarvauṣadhyakṣatairmiśrairviṣṇumuddiśya tarpayet / kāryaṃ puruṣasūktena mantrairvā vaiṣṇavairapi

Translation

One should offer tarpana to Lord Viṣṇu with rice-grains mixed with all medicinal herbs. This rite is to be performed with the Puruṣa-sūkta, or else with other Vaiṣṇava mantras as well.

Word by Word

• सर्वौषधि-अक्षतैः: with all herbs and (unbroken) rice-grains
• सर्वौषधि-अक्षतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + औषधि (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—(सर्वौषधि + अक्षत) इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः, तदन्त-प्रत्ययेन तृतीया बहुवचन

• मिश्रैः: mixed
• मिश्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (सर्वौषध्यक्षतैः इत्यस्य)

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• उद्दिश्य: having addressed (to)
• उद्दिश्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया—‘उद्दिश्य’ = उद्दिश्य (having addressed/aimed at)

• तर्पयेत्: should offer satisfaction/oblation (tarpana)
• तर्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कार्यम्: (it) should be done
• कार्यम्: Karya (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृ धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधानार्थे—‘to be done/should be performed’ (predicate nominal)

• पुरुषसूक्तेन: with the Puruṣa-sūkta
• पुरुषसूक्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + सूक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘पुरुषस्य सूक्तम्’

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle of alternative)

• वैष्णवैः: Vishnu-related
• वैष्णवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (मन्त्रैः इत्यस्य)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tarpana becomes efficacious when explicitly dedicated to Vishnu and supported by authoritative mantra (Puruṣa-sūkta or Vaiṣṇava mantras).

Vedantic Theme: Purusha-Narayana identification; the cosmic Person as the support of rites and their fruit.

Application: During tarpana, explicitly sankalpa ‘to Vishnu’, use akṣata mixed with auspicious/medicinal herbs, and recite Puruṣa-sūkta or established Vaiṣṇava mantras with steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (shraddha/tarpana place)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.118-121 (south-facing remembrance, Vishnu-dhyana, shraddha sequence, offerings)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Purusha (as in Purusha-sukta)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-tarpana in the Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse prescribes that tarpana be explicitly addressed to Viṣṇu, indicating that post-death rites are to be grounded in Viṣṇu-centered remembrance and mantra, treating the offering as a sacred act of pacification and sanctification.

Why does the verse mention akshata mixed with medicinal herbs (sarvaushadhi)?

Akṣata signifies purity and wholeness, while sarvauṣadhi implies auspicious, life-supporting sanctity; together they make the tarpana offering ritually fit when directed to Viṣṇu.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing ancestral or post-death rites, keep the offering materials pure (akṣata) and the intention devotional (addressed to Viṣṇu), reciting Puruṣa-sūkta or other Vaiṣṇava mantras with steadiness and reverence.