Shloka 138

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

Devanagari script

बाहुद्वये शतं दद्यात्कटिदेशे च विंशतिम् / ऊरुद्वये शतञ्चापि त्रिंशज्जङ्घाद्वये न्यसेत्

Transliteration

bāhudvaye śataṃ dadyātkaṭideśe ca viṃśatim / ūrudvaye śatañcāpi triṃśajjaṅghādvaye nyaset

Translation

One should place one hundred upon the two arms, twenty at the region of the waist, again one hundred upon the two thighs, and thirty should be placed upon the two shanks.

Word by Word

• bāhu-dvaye: in the two arms
• bāhu-dvaye: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (bāhu = बाह्वोः)

• śatam: a hundred
• śatam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; संख्या

• dadyāt: should give/place
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• kaṭi-deśe: in the waist-region
• kaṭi-deśe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kaṭi = कट्याः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction: and)

• viṃśatim: twenty
• viṃśatim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṃśati (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; संख्या

• ūru-dvaye: in the two thighs
• ūru-dvaye: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūru (प्रातिपदिक) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ūru = ऊर्वोः)

• śatam: a hundred
• śatam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; संख्या

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction: and)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अपि (particle: also/even)

• triṃśat: thirty
• triṃśat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: triṃśat (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-शब्दः, अव्ययवत् (indeclinable-like numeral), कर्मणि/परिमाणे

• jaṅghā-dvaye: in the two shanks/legs
• jaṅghā-dvaye: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṅghā (प्रातिपदिक) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (jaṅghā = जङ्घयोः)

• nyaset: should place
• nyaset: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Antyeṣṭi/pretakriyā sequence within the rite.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma as exact performance: limb-wise allocation reflects cosmic/ritual order (ṛta) applied to the human form.

Vedantic Theme: Body as upādhi; rites address the subtle transition while acknowledging corporeal dissolution.

Application: Allocate the specified counts to arms, waist, thighs, and shanks without improvisation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.137; Garuda Purana 2.4.139; Garuda Purana 2.4.140; Garuda Purana 2.4.141

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of these numbered placements in the Garuda Purana?

This verse specifies exact counts to be offered/placed on particular body regions, reflecting the Purana’s precise ritual sequencing for post-death rites (preta-kritya), where correct measure and placement are treated as ritually significant.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda, carefully performed rites are presented as supportive acts for the departed being (preta) in its transitional state; this verse contributes procedural detail within that broader framework of aiding the deceased through prescribed offerings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows traditional antyeṣṭi/preta-ritual practice, this verse emphasizes doing rites with accuracy and reverence; more broadly, it highlights disciplined, conscientious performance of dharmic duties toward ancestors and the departed.