Shloka 150

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

Devanagari script

स्त्रियः पुनन्तु म शिर इमं मे वरुणेन च / प्रेतस्य पावनं कृत्वा शालग्रामशिलोदकैः

Transliteration

striyaḥ punantu ma śira imaṃ me varuṇena ca / pretasya pāvanaṃ kṛtvā śālagrāmaśilodakaiḥ

Translation

“May the women purify my head, and may Varuṇa also (purify me).” Having purified the departed preta, this is done with the water used to bathe the Śālagrāma stone.

Word by Word

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; कर्ता

• पुनन्तु: let (them) purify
• पुनन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; 'let them purify'

• म: my
• म: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप 'मे/म'—सम्बन्ध (possessive)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; 'this'—शिरः इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (लिङ्गानुसारं पाठभेदे इदम्/इमम्)

• मे: of me, my
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• वरुणेन: by/with Varuṇa
• वरुणेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण/सहकारि

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

• प्रेतस्य: of the departed
• प्रेतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• पावनम्: purification
• पावनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म; 'purification'

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

• शालग्रामशिलोदकैः: with water (used for) the Śālagrāma stone
• शालग्रामशिलोदकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम + शिला + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमाहारः—'शालग्रामशिलायाः उदकैः'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra, describing preta-rites and purificatory procedures)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During preta-śuddhi, after upacāras and before/alongside subsequent dāna steps (as per sequence).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification of the preta through Vaiṣṇava tīrtha (Śālagrāma-udaka) and sacred invocation; sanctity mediated by devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti-supported śuddhi: the sacred (Viṣṇu-tattva) purifies and steadies the mind amid saṃskāra duties.

Application: If Śālagrāma worship is part of one’s tradition, treat its tīrtha with reverence; integrate devotion with ritual duty, maintaining purity and restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: ritual household space with Śālagrāma worship

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.151: subsequent Viṣṇu-dedicated dāna; Garuda Purana 2.4.147–149: preceding upacāras and agni-kārya

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Preta
• Striyaḥ (women participants in rites)
• Shalagrama

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma water in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse treats Śālagrāma-śilā bathing water as a potent purifier used specifically for preta-pāvana—ritual cleansing meant to aid and sanctify the departed condition.

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

By emphasizing “preta” purification, it reflects the Garuda Purana’s view that the departed passes through a transitional state where rites, sacred water, and divine agencies (like Varuṇa) support purification and onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows tradition, perform post-death rites with purity and prescribed sanctifiers (especially sacred water), and treat the process as compassionate support for the departed rather than mere formality.