Shloka 139

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

Devanagari script

दद्याच्चतुष्टयं शिश्ने षड् दद्याद्वृषाणद्वये / दश पादाङ्गुलीभागे एवमस्थीनि विन्यसेत्

Transliteration

dadyāccatuṣṭayaṃ śiśne ṣaḍ dadyādvṛṣāṇadvaye / daśa pādāṅgulībhāge evamasthīni vinyaset

Translation

One should place four in the penis, six in the pair of testicles, and ten in the region of the toes of the feet; thus should the bones be arranged in their proper places.

Word by Word

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

• catuṣṭayam: a set of four
• catuṣṭayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catuṣṭaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; समूहवाचक (set of four)

• śiśne: in the penis
• śiśne: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiśna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

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

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

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

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

• pāda-aṅgulī-bhāge: in the region of the toes
• pāda-aṅgulī-bhāge: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgulī (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-परम्परा (pāda-aṅgulī = पादाङ्गुलीनाम्)

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus)

• asthīni: bones
• asthīni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asthi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचनम्; (contextually कर्म—‘bones’ as items placed)

• vinyaset: should arrange/place
• vinyaset: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√nyas (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Within pretakriyā/antyeṣṭi procedural mapping.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Wholeness of rite requires inclusion of all bodily components; nothing is omitted in the symbolic reconstruction.

Vedantic Theme: Deconstruction of body-identification; the body is a composite (saṅghāta) arranged and disarranged.

Application: Do not skip ‘uncomfortable’ anatomical correspondences; follow the mapping to avoid ritual incompleteness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.137; Garuda Purana 2.4.138; Garuda Purana 2.4.140; Garuda Purana 2.4.141

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of asthi-vinyasa (arrangement of bones) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats funerary procedure as a precise ritual-technical act: correctly “placing/arranging” bodily bone-units is presented as part of properly mapping the body in post-death rites, supporting orderly transition in preta-related observances.

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

In the Preta Kanda, ritual exactness supports the post-death process; this verse contributes by specifying bodily arrangement details, implying that correct rites for the departed (preta) require disciplined, methodical performance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat last rites and memorial rituals with care and accuracy—consult qualified tradition-bearers (purohita/ācārya) and follow established procedure rather than improvising, as the text emphasizes precision in death-ritual observance.