Shloka 147

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

Devanagari script

परिधानं पट्टसूत्रंहृदये चैव विन्यसेत् / ऋद्धिवृद्धी भुजौ द्वौ च चक्षुर्भ्याञ्च कपर्दकम्

Transliteration

paridhānaṃ paṭṭasūtraṃhṛdaye caiva vinyaset / ṛddhivṛddhī bhujau dvau ca cakṣurbhyāñca kapardakam

Translation

One should place the garment and the sacred band-thread upon the heart. Then one should set the emblems of Prosperity and Increase upon the two arms, and a kapardaka-shell upon the eyes.

Word by Word

• परिधानम्: garment, covering
• परिधानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; 'garment/covering'

• पट्टसूत्रम्: silk-thread/cloth-thread
• पट्टसूत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट्ट + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पट्टस्य सूत्रम्)

• हृदये: in/at the heart
• हृदये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• विन्यसेत्: should place/arrange
• विन्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आदेश/विधानार्थ

• ऋद्धिवृद्धी: prosperity and increase
• ऋद्धिवृद्धी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋद्धि + वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (ऋद्धिश्च वृद्धिश्च)

• भुजौ: (on) the two arms
• भुजौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी? न; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), द्विवचन; 'two arms'

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चक्षुर्भ्याम्: with the two eyes
• चक्षुर्भ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), द्विवचन; करण/अधिकरण-प्रयोगे 'with/by the two eyes'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कपर्दकम्: a cowrie shell
• कपर्दकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपर्दक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; 'cowrie/small shell'

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During preta-śuddhi/upacāra sequence in the immediate post-death rites (as per the text’s procedure).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual nyāsa/placement as dharmic duty to aid the departed and maintain auspicious order.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purificatory support within saṃsāra; outward rites as aids to inner śānti.

Application: Perform śrāddha-related placements with attentiveness and purity, treating the rite as compassionate duty rather than mere formality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household/śrāddha-ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta-kalpa: sequences of śrāddha/antyeṣṭi upacāras and preta-śuddhi (adjacent verses 2.4.148–151)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of placing cloth and paṭṭasūtra on the heart in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames ritual placement as a way to mark and protect the subtle transition of the departed, using auspicious items centered on the heart as a key locus of prāṇa and identity in rites.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, such placements are part of preparing the deceased for the preta-state journey—invoking auspicious forces (ṛddhi-vṛddhi) and protective tokens (kapardaka) before the post-death path described later.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows traditional antyeṣṭi guidance, this verse supports performing rites with intention and symbolic clarity—keeping the ritual orderly, auspicious, and aligned with dharmic custom rather than treating it as mere formality.