Shloka 149

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

Devanagari script

सर्वौषदियुतं प्रेतं कृत्वा पूजां यथोदिताम् / साग्निके चापि विधिना यज्ञपात्रं न्यस्येत्क्रमात्

Transliteration

sarvauṣadiyutaṃ pretaṃ kṛtvā pūjāṃ yathoditām / sāgnike cāpi vidhinā yajñapātraṃ nyasyetkramāt

Translation

Having prepared the departed preta together with all the requisite medicinal herbs, and having performed the worship as prescribed, one should then, in the fire-rite as well, properly arrange—step by step—the ritual vessel of the yajña (yajña-pātra).

Word by Word

• सर्वौषधियुतम्: endowed with all herbs
• सर्वौषधियुतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + औषधि + युत (युज्-क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिवत् विशेषण-प्रयोगः; 'सर्वाभिः औषधिभिः युतम्'

• प्रेतम्: the departed (spirit/body)
• प्रेतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म

• यथोदिताम्: as prescribed
• यथोदिताम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + उदित (वद्/उद्-इ, क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः—'यथा उदिता' = as stated; पूजाम् इति विशेषणम्

• साग्निके: in/with the fire-rite
• साग्निके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अग्नि + क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; 'with fire'—अधिकरणे प्रयोगः

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (also/even)

• विधिना: by the prescribed procedure
• विधिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण (means/manner)

• यज्ञपात्रम्: ritual vessel
• यज्ञपात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यज्ञस्य पात्रम्)

• न्यस्येत्: should place/set down
• न्यस्येत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस्/न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'should place'

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययभावे पञ्चमी-एकवचन (adverbial ablative): 'in order/stepwise'

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During agni-kārya within the post-death ritual sequence.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kriyā-krama (stepwise ritual order) and saṃskāra through agni; herbs as purificatory/auspicious supports for the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as a means to order and purify the transition within saṃsāra; agni as transformative principle (symbolic of inner tapas).

Application: Execute rites in correct sequence with competent guidance; maintain ritual cleanliness; treat the process as compassionate service to the departed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: antyeṣṭi/śrāddha fire-rite ground (agni-kārya)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.147–151: preta preparation, purification, and subsequent donations

Characters & Entities

• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of arranging the yajñapātra ‘in order’ (kramāt) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse stresses that post-death rites are not improvised; the ritual implements (yajñapātra) must be placed sequentially and according to vidhi, ensuring the rite is considered properly executed for the preta.

How does this verse relate to the preta’s journey after death?

By prescribing worship and correct fire-rite procedure for the preta, the verse frames ritual order and sanctification (including herb-based preparations) as supportive measures during the preta phase, when the departed is ritually cared for and guided.

Practical application of this instruction today?

Follow a competent priestly procedure for antyeṣṭi/śrāddha, keep the rite orderly (kramāt), and treat the funeral process as a disciplined dharmic duty rather than a casual ceremony.