Shloka 144

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

Devanagari script

कर्णयोस्तालपत्रञ्च स्तनयोश्चैव गुञ्जिकाः / नासायां शतपत्रञ्च कमलं नाभिमण्डले

Transliteration

karṇayostālapatrañca stanayoścaiva guñjikāḥ / nāsāyāṃ śatapatrañca kamalaṃ nābhimaṇḍale

Translation

On the ears there are tāla-leaves; on the breasts there are guñjikā-berries; in the nose there is a hundred‑petalled lotus; and at the circle of the navel there is a lotus.

Word by Word

• कर्णयोः: in the two ears
• कर्णयोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (सन्दर्भतः सप्तमी—अधिकरण: "in the ears")

• तालपत्रम्: palm-leaf
• तालपत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तालस्य पत्रम्)

• च: and
• च: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-निपात

• स्तनयोः: on the two breasts
• स्तनयोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (सन्दर्भतः सप्तमी—अधिकरण: "on the breasts")

• च: and
• च: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण-निपात

• गुञ्जिकाः: gunjā-berries (small red seeds)
• गुञ्जिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुञ्जिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नासायाम्: in the nose
• नासायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• शतपत्रम्: hundred-petalled (flower)
• शतपत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (शतं पत्राणि यस्य/शतपत्रम्)

• च: and
• च: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-निपात

• कमलम्: lotus
• कमलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नाभिमण्डले: in the navel-region
• नाभिमण्डले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नाभेः मण्डलम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodiment is plastic under karma; even sacred motifs (lotus) can appear in distorted, non-liberating contexts.

Vedantic Theme: Form (nāma-rūpa) is contingent; liberation is not in bodily signs but in realization/devotion.

Application: Do not mistake external marks for spiritual attainment; seek inner purity and right action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4 (catalog of altered organs/limbs in preta condition)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of lotus imagery in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse uses lotus and “hundred‑petalled” imagery to map sacred, subtle markers onto the post-death (preta) form, indicating a symbolic anatomy used in Garuda Purana teachings on the afterlife.

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

By describing specific features on the preta-form, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader account that the departed experiences a subtle, post-death embodiment through which it undergoes transitional states and rites connected with death rituals.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages reverence and precision in śrāddha and related Garuda Purana death rituals, treating the departed’s post-death condition as meaningful and supported through dharmic rites and remembrance.