Shloka 158

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

Devanagari script

शुद्धिं सम्पाद्य कर्तव्यं दहनाद्यौर्ध्वदेहिकम् / अकृत्वा निष्कृतिं यस्तु कुरुते दहनादिकम्

Transliteration

śuddhiṃ sampādya kartavyaṃ dahanādyaurdhvadehikam / akṛtvā niṣkṛtiṃ yastu kurute dahanādikam

Translation

Having first accomplished ritual purification, one should perform the post-death rites beginning with cremation. But whoever performs cremation and the like without first carrying out the prescribed niṣkṛti (expiation) acts improperly.

Word by Word

• शुद्धिम्: purification
• शुद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object of 'सम्पाद्य'

• सम्पाद्य: having obtained/accomplished
• सम्पाद्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्+पद्/सम्+पादय् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): having accomplished/obtained

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicative: 'is to be done'

• दहनादि: cremation and the like
• दहनादि: Karta (Subject of predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दहन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'दहनम्' + 'आदि' = cremation etc. (समाहार)

• और्ध्वदेहिकम्: pertaining to post-death rites
• और्ध्वदेहिकम्: Karta (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: और्ध्वदेहिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies 'दहनादि' (post-funeral rite)

• अकृत्वा: without doing
• अकृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action negated)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक-क्त्वान्त-अव्यय: 'कृत्वा' with negation; without doing

• निष्कृतिम्: expiation/atonement
• निष्कृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of 'अकृत्वा' (what is not done)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; relative pronoun, subject of 'कुरुते'

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• कुरुते: does/performs
• कुरुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• दहनादिकम्: cremation etc.
• दहनादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दहन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of 'कुरुते'

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after death, prior to and during ūrdhva-dehika sequence beginning with cremation

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual sequence matters: first śuddhi/niṣkṛti (purification/expiation), then cremation and subsequent post-death rites.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra (fitness) for karma-kāṇḍa: rites bear fruit only when performed by a qualified, purified agent in correct order.

Application: After a death, follow prescribed purification and expiation before handling cremation and related rites; consult tradition/ācārya for local śākhā rules.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/cremation setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.159-161 (enumeration of niṣkṛti and graded penances); Garuda Purana śrāddha/antyeṣṭi instructions in the same adhyāya

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of purification (śuddhi) before cremation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that funeral rites beginning with cremation should be performed only after establishing śuddhi; otherwise the act is considered improperly done.

What does niṣkṛti (expiation) mean here in relation to aurdhva-dehika rites?

Niṣkṛti refers to prescribed corrective/atonement measures that restore ritual fitness; the verse warns against proceeding to cremation without completing such required expiation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat last rites as disciplined dharma: follow competent guidance, observe cleanliness and prescribed preliminaries, and avoid rushing major rituals without the required preparatory steps.