Shloka 142

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

Devanagari script

पारदं रेतसः स्थाने पुरीषे पित्तलं तथा / मनः शिला तथा गात्रे तिलपक्वन्तु सन्धिषु

Transliteration

pāradaṃ retasaḥ sthāne purīṣe pittalaṃ tathā / manaḥ śilā tathā gātre tilapakvantu sandhiṣu

Translation

In place of semen there is mercury; in place of feces there is brass. Likewise, manaḥśilā (realgar) forms the limbs, and in the joints it is as though sesame were being cooked.

Word by Word

• पारदम्: mercury
• पारदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• रेतसः: of semen
• रेतसः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• स्थाने: in the place
• स्थाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पुरीषे: in feces
• पुरीषे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पित्तलम्: brass
• पित्तलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पित्तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (सन्दर्भतः द्वितीया—न्यास्य वस्तु)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ-क्रियाविशेषण ("likewise/also")

• मनः: realgar (manahśilā) / mind (lit.)
• मनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (सन्दर्भतः द्वितीया—न्यास्य वस्तु)

• शिला: stone; (with मनः) realgar
• शिला: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (सन्दर्भतः द्वितीया—न्यास्य वस्तु)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ

• गात्रे: in the body/limb
• गात्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तिलपक्वन्तु: sesame-cooked (sesame preparation), and indeed
• तिलपक्वन्तु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलपक्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तु (अव्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तिलेन पक्वम्); 'तु' = अव्यय (पदान्तर-निपात)

• सन्धिषु: in the joints
• सन्धिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dehābhimāna is shattered by showing the body as mutable and degradable under karmic consequence.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatva of the body; karmaphala shaping embodied experience; vairāgya through disgust (jugupsā).

Application: Cultivate detachment from bodily pride; prioritize dharma and remembrance of Hari over sensual identification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of preta-body distortions and punitive embodiments (adjacent verses in 2.4)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of the preta-body description in Garuda Purana?

This verse gives a technical, graphic account of the preta-deha’s composition, emphasizing that the post-death state is a distinct embodiment shaped by karma and the afterlife process described in the Preta Kanda.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By describing the altered ‘materials’ of the preta-body, the text signals a transition from gross physical life to an interim after-death embodiment through which the soul undergoes experiences and moves through Yama’s path as taught in this section.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages detachment from bodily identity and motivates ethical living and proper śrāddha/antyeṣṭi observances, remembering that actions (karma) shape one’s post-death condition.