Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

गतप्राणं ततो ज्ञात्वा स्नात्वा पुत्रादिराशु तम् / शवं जलेन शुद्धेन क्षालयेदविचारयन्

Transliteration

gataprāṇaṃ tato jñātvā snātvā putrādirāśu tam / śavaṃ jalena śuddhena kṣālayedavicārayan

Translation

Knowing that the life-breath has departed, the son and other relatives should promptly bathe and, without hesitation, wash the corpse with pure water.

Word by Word

• गतप्राणम्: (him) whose life-breath has departed
• गतप्राणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (कृदन्त; √गम्) + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गताः प्राणाः यस्मात्)

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद् + तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (thereupon/then)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund/absolutive): 'having known'

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्तम्: 'having bathed'

• पुत्रादिः: the son and others (relatives)
• पुत्रादिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पुत्रः आदिः यस्य/पुत्रादयः)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययम् (quickly)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• शवम्: the corpse
• शवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तम् इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन

• जलेन: with water
• जलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• शुद्धेन: pure
• शुद्धेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; जलेन इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• क्षालयेत्: should wash
• क्षालयेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• अविचारयन्: without deliberation
• अविचारयन्: Kriya-vishesana (Concomitant action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अ-वि-√चर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्रियासहचर-भावः (without considering)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after confirming death; before further antyeṣṭi steps and cremation.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Upon confirming death, relatives—especially the son—should bathe and promptly wash the corpse with pure water, without hesitation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as stabilizer at liminal moments; honoring the body as a vessel while recognizing the departed self as distinct from the corpse.

Application: After death is confirmed, proceed calmly: personal cleansing, respectful handling, and hygienic washing of the body with clean water, coordinating with local rites and health regulations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.40 (topic: interval between death and cremation)

Characters & Entities

• Putra (son)
• Relatives (kinsmen)

FAQs

What is the importance of washing the body with pure water in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse emphasizes immediate physical and ritual purification—relatives bathe first and then cleanse the corpse with pure water—marking the proper commencement of antyeṣṭi (last rites).

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

By stating “life-breath has departed,” it distinguishes the body from the departed prāṇa; the rites then focus on orderly transition—beginning with purification—while the deceased proceeds into the post-death state described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Act promptly and respectfully after death: maintain cleanliness, follow appropriate rites without confusion, and treat the body with dignity as part of dharmic responsibility.