Shloka 164

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

Devanagari script

तप्तक्षीरघृताम्बूनामेकैकं प्रत्यहं पिबेत् / एकरात्रोपवासश्च तप्तकृच्छ्र उदाहृतः

Transliteration

taptakṣīraghṛtāmbūnāmekaikaṃ pratyahaṃ pibet / ekarātropavāsaśca taptakṛcchra udāhṛtaḥ

Translation

One should drink, day by day, only one of these—heated milk, heated ghee, or heated water—and also observe a fast for a single night. This is declared to be the tapta‑kṛcchra.

Word by Word

• तप्तक्षीरघृताम्बूनाम्: of heated milk, ghee, and water
• तप्तक्षीरघृताम्बूनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त; तप्-धातु) + क्षीर + घृत + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (क्षीर-घृत-अम्बूनि) कर्मधारय-पूर्वपद (तप्त-)

• एकैकम्: one each (one by one)
• एकैकम्: Karma (Manner/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर (one by one) used adverbially

• प्रत्यहम्: every day
• प्रत्यहम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + अहन् (अव्ययीभाव-समास)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभावसमास; कालवाचक (each day)

• पिबेत्: should drink
• पिबेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एकरात्रोपवासः: a one-night fast
• एकरात्रोपवासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (एकरात्रे उपवासः = fasting for one night)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• तप्तकृच्छ्रः: (is) the Taptakṛcchra
• तप्तकृच्छ्रः: Pratijna/Predicate (Predicate nominative/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त; तप्-धातु) + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (तप्तः कृच्छ्रः)

• उदाहृतः: is declared
• उदाहृतः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapta-kṛcchra: daily intake of only one among heated milk, heated ghee, or heated water, plus a one-night fast.

Vedantic Theme: Tapas as ‘heat’ that burns impurities; voluntary discomfort to reorient desire and restore dharmic balance.

Application: If prescribed, keep the regimen minimal and exact; treat ‘heated’ as intentional austerity and maintain mindfulness during restriction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.163 (kṛcchra baseline); Garuda Purana 2.4.165 (sāntapana variant)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the taptakṛcchra penance in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines taptakṛcchra as a specific prāyaścitta: consuming only heated milk, ghee, or water (one per day) along with a one-night fast, emphasizing disciplined austerity for purification.

How does this verse relate to karma and purification in the Garuda Purana?

By prescribing a structured austerity (kṛcchra), the text presents a dharmic method to reduce the weight of wrongdoing through self-restraint, thereby supporting karmic cleansing and moral reform.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt measured restraint—such as a supervised fast or simplified diet with mindful discipline—paired with ethical correction and sincere repentance, aligning one’s conduct with dharma.