Shloka 165

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

Devanagari script

गोमूत्रं गोमयं क्षीरं दधि सर्पिः कुशोदकम् / जग्ध्वा परे ऽह्न्युपवसेत्कृच्छ्रं सान्तपनञ्चरन्

Transliteration

gomūtraṃ gomayaṃ kṣīraṃ dadhi sarpiḥ kuśodakam / jagdhvā pare 'hnyupavasetkṛcchraṃ sāntapanañcaran

Translation

Having consumed cow’s urine, cow-dung, milk, curd (dadhi), ghee, and water sanctified with kuśa grass, on the following day one should fast—thus performing the Sāntapana form of the kṛcchra.

Word by Word

• गोमूत्रम्: cow-urine
• गोमूत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (गोः मूत्रम्)

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (गोः मयम्)

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दधि: curd
• दधि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्पिः: ghee
• सर्पिः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (सर्पिः = acc. sg. neuter)

• कुशोदकम्: kuśa-water (water with kuśa grass)
• कुशोदकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कुशैः/कुशसम्बद्धम् उदकम्)

• जग्ध्वा: having eaten
• जग्ध्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु) / जग्ध् (धातुरूप) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having eaten’

• परे: on the next
• परे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘परे अह्नि’ इति लोकेशन

• अह्नि: day
• अह्नि: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• उपवसेत्: should fast
• उपवसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-वास् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कृच्छ्रम्: the kṛcchra (penance)
• कृच्छ्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सान्तपनम्: the sāntapana (penance)
• सान्तपनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्तपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चरन्: practising/performing
• चरन्: Karta (Agent participle/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sāntapana kṛcchra: consume cow-urine, cow-dung, milk, curd, ghee, and kuśa-sanctified water; fast the next day.

Vedantic Theme: External śuddhi as symbol for internal purification; humility and surrender of taste-preference to dharma.

Application: If prescribed traditionally, follow with ritual cleanliness and intention; understand the symbolic purificatory logic and avoid casual or unsafe imitation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.162-164 (kṛcchra variants)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Sāntapana kṛcchra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Sāntapana as a defined prāyaścitta: consuming specific purifying cow-products and kuśa-water, followed by a fast, to counter ritual impurity and certain sins through disciplined austerity.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on sin and purification?

In the Preta Kanda context, purification and expiation are prescribed alongside afterlife teachings; the verse gives a concrete, rule-based method (kṛcchra) for reducing the burden of wrongdoing through regulated conduct and fasting.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

The core takeaway is disciplined self-restraint and intentional purification—observing ethical correction, fasting or dietary restraint under guidance, and adopting sincere repentance rather than repeating harmful actions.