Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

तानितानि च सर्वाणि उपतिष्ठन्ति चाग्रतः / प्रायश्चित्तं कृतं येन साङ्गं खग स वै पुमान्

Transliteration

tānitāni ca sarvāṇi upatiṣṭhanti cāgrataḥ / prāyaścittaṃ kṛtaṃ yena sāṅgaṃ khaga sa vai pumān

Translation

All those prescribed rites and supports stand ready before him. O Khaga (Garuda), that man indeed is the one who has performed prāyaścitta—atonement—completely, with all its required parts.

Word by Word

• तानि: those (things)
• तानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• तानि: those (things)
• तानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

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

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्वनाम/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• उपतिष्ठन्ति: stand near; attend; approach
• उपतिष्ठन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa√sthā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद (Present, 3rd, Pl., Parasmaipada)

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

• अग्रतः: in front; before
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agratas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb of place)

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation; penance
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāyaścitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Sg.)

• कृतम्: done; performed
• कृतम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘done’ (Past passive participle, Neut., Nom/Acc, Sg.)

• येन: by whom; by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instr., Sg.)

• साङ्गम्: with all parts; complete
• साङ्गम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-aṅga (प्रातिपदिक: sa + aṅga)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सह-अङ्गम् = with limbs/with all parts); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neut., Nom/Acc, Sg.)

• खग: O bird (Garuda)
• खग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masc., Voc., Sg.)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masc., Nom., Sg.)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• पुमान्: a man; person
• पुमान्: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masc., Nom., Sg.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāyaścitta must be performed completely (sāṅga) for its intended efficacy; the ‘supports/rites’ align and ‘stand before’ the performer as merit and protection.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa purification as citta-śuddhi supporting higher pursuit; orderly dharma as a means to reduce pāpa-vāsanā.

Application: When making amends, do it fully: confession/acknowledgment, restitution, prescribed discipline, and sustained change—avoid partial ‘checkbox’ atonement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Dharmakanda passages on prāyaścitta and pāpa-kṣaya (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khaga)

FAQs

What is the importance of prāyaścitta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that when prāyaścitta is performed fully (sāṅga), the prescribed supports of dharma “stand before” the person—meaning purification becomes effective and protective in the karmic/afterlife context.

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

By implying that complete expiation ensures the necessary ritual and moral supports are present, it points to smoother passage and fewer obstacles caused by unresolved pāpa (sin) in the post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake corrective action for wrongdoing through sincere repentance, ethical restraint, and properly completed prescribed remedies (not half-performed), so that one’s conduct and ritual life align with dharma.