Shloka 171

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

Devanagari script

अज्ञातस्य प्रोषितस्य कृत्वा प्रतिकृतिं दहेत् / रजस्वलासूतिकयोर्विशेषं मरणे शृणु

Transliteration

ajñātasya proṣitasya kṛtvā pratikṛtiṃ dahet / rajasvalāsūtikayorviśeṣaṃ maraṇe śṛṇu

Translation

For one whose whereabouts are unknown and who has long been away, having made a substitute effigy, one should perform the cremation. Now hear the special rule regarding death (ritual impurity) in the case of a menstruating woman and a woman in childbirth.

Word by Word

• अज्ञातस्य: of an unknown (person)
• अज्ञातस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (of an unknown person)

• प्रोषितस्य: of one who is away/absent
• प्रोषितस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-उष्/वस् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त 'प्रोषित' (gone away/absent), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• प्रतिकृतिम्: an effigy/substitute image
• प्रतिकृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दहेत्: should burn/cremate
• दहेत्: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रजस्वला: of a menstruating woman
• रजस्वला: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस्वला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; (समासे 'रजस्वलायाः')—युगपद् 'सूतिका' सह द्वन्द्व-सम्बन्धे

• सूतिकयोः: of a woman in postpartum impurity
• सूतिकयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; 'रजस्वला-सूतिका' इत्यर्थे युग्मसम्बन्धः

• विशेषम्: the special rule/distinction
• विशेषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मरणे: in the case of death
• मरणे: Adhikaraṇa (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• शृणु: hear/listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: When prolonged absence and unknown whereabouts warrant substitute rites; followed by applicable impurity observances

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When a person is missing/unknown, effigy cremation may be performed; death-related impurity has special considerations for menstruating and postpartum women.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as context-sensitive regulation of life’s transitions; recognition of liminal states and their ritual consequences.

Application: If whereabouts are unknown and absence prolonged, perform pratikṛti-dāha per rule; consult tradition-specific guidance for āśauca distinctions involving rajasvalā and sūtikā in death contexts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: cremation-ground implied; household purity sphere for rajasvalā/sūtikā rules

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: pratikṛti-dāha procedure and subsequent śuddhi/prāyaścitta; Garuda Purana: āśauca distinctions and special cases

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What does this verse say about Garuda Purana death rituals when the body is not available?

It permits performing cremation rites by creating a pratikṛti (substitute effigy) for a person who is missing/unknown and long absent, so the family’s funeral duties are not left undone.

How does this verse address aśauca rules for menstruation and childbirth?

It signals that there are specific, distinct rules (viśeṣa) concerning death-related impurity and observances when a death occurs involving or affecting a rajasvalā (menstruating woman) or a sūtikā (postpartum woman), to be explained in the following context.

Practical application of this teaching today?

When circumstances prevent normal funeral procedures, the tradition allows representative rites to fulfill dharma; it also emphasizes that sensitive life-stages (menstruation/childbirth) have tailored ritual guidelines rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.