Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

आसन्ने मरणे कुर्यात्संन्यासं चेद्विधानतः / आवर्तेत पुनर्नासौ ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते

Transliteration

āsanne maraṇe kuryātsaṃnyāsaṃ cedvidhānataḥ / āvarteta punarnāsau brahmabhūyāya kalpate

Translation

When death is near, if one undertakes saṃnyāsa according to the prescribed rule, that person does not return again to rebirth; he becomes fit to attain the Brahman-state, liberation.

Word by Word

• आसन्ने: when (death is) near
• आसन्ने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसन्न (कृदन्त; √सद्/सद् धातु, उपसर्ग आ-; भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (locative absolute sense)

• मरणे: at death
• मरणे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्

• संन्यासम्: renunciation (sannyāsa)
• संन्यासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संन्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-निपातः (conditional particle: 'if')

• विधानतः: according to rule
• विधानतः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb of manner)

• आवर्तेत: would return
• आवर्तेत: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययम् (adverb: again)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• असौ: that person
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्मभूयाय: for Brahman-state (brahmahood)
• ब्रह्मभूयाय: Sampradana (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + भूय (प्रातिपदिक; भाववाचक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (4th/Dative), एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः भूयम्/भावः)

• कल्पते: is fit/attains
• कल्पते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Antya-kāla-saṃnyāsa performed according to vidhi leads to non-return (apunarāvṛtti) and fitness for brahma-bhūya.

Vedantic Theme: Apunarāvṛtti and brahma-sāyujya/brahma-bhāva through renunciation and disidentification from saṃsāra.

Application: If death is imminent, undertake renunciation with proper procedure and mental detachment; cultivate letting-go, remembrance of the Absolute, and withdrawal from worldly claims.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.38-41 (antya-kala practices; merit of tīrtha-journey; fasting vow; post-death interval and corpse rites)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Saṃnyāsa

FAQs

What is the importance of saṃnyāsa at the time of death in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that formally adopting saṃnyāsa in the prescribed manner when death is near is presented as a direct means to avoid return to rebirth and to become qualified for Brahman-realization.

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

It contrasts two outcomes: continued cyclical return (punarāvṛtti) versus non-return. Properly undertaken renunciation at life’s end is described as breaking the cycle and orienting the soul toward Brahman-state rather than further transmigration.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with detachment and spiritual discipline so that, even near life’s end, one can turn the mind fully toward renunciation, dharma, and liberation-oriented remembrance rather than fear and clinging.