Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

अर्धं श्मशानवासार्थं भूमावेव विनिः क्षिपेत् / ततः पूर्वोक्तविधिना पिण्डं प्रेतकरे न्यसेत्

Transliteration

ardhaṃ śmaśānavāsārthaṃ bhūmāveva viniḥ kṣipet / tataḥ pūrvoktavidhinā piṇḍaṃ pretakare nyaset

Translation

He should place half of it upon the ground, meant for the departed one’s sojourn at the cremation-ground. Then, by the method stated earlier, he should set the piṇḍa— the rice-ball offering—into the “hand of the preta,” as an oblation for the departed spirit.

Word by Word

• ardham: half
• ardham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• śmaśāna-vāsa-artham: for (use at) the cremation-ground dwelling
• śmaśāna-vāsa-artham: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śmaśāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (श्मशाने वासः तस्य अर्थः) ‘for the purpose of dwelling at the cremation-ground’; ardha-विशेषण

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• viniḥ: completely, away
• viniḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinis-/viniḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश अव्यय/निपात (intensifier; ‘completely/away’)

• kṣipet: should throw/place
• kṣipet: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣip-क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (thereafter)

• pūrva-ukta-vidhinā: by the previously stated procedure
• pūrva-ukta-vidhinā: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त; √vac- वच्, क्त) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पूर्वं उक्तः विधिः)

• piṇḍam: rice-ball offering (piṇḍa)
• piṇḍam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• preta-kare: on the hand of the preta (departed)
• preta-kare: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (प्रेतस्य करः)

• nyaset: should place
• nyaset: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni- (उपसर्ग) + √as- अस्/√sad- सद् (धातु; ‘to place’ in causative/denominative usage as √nyas)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धात्वर्थः—‘स्थापयेत्/न्यसेत्’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Between death and cremation / at the śmaśāna-related stage, following the earlier prescribed method.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Material offerings (vastra, piṇḍa) performed in prescribed sequence are karmic supports for the preta’s interim state.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle continuity: though the body perishes, the jīva’s journey is aided by saṃskāras; karma operates through ritual intention and order.

Application: Follow the earlier stated method precisely; allocate the cloth portion for śmaśāna-use and place piṇḍa as ‘preta-kara’ offering.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cremation-ground/ritual ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4 (earlier ‘pūrvokta-vidhi’ for piṇḍa; ‘preta-kara’ placement instructions)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Shmashana

FAQs

What is the importance of placing part of the offering on the ground at the śmaśāna in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames it as support for the preta’s śmaśāna-vāsa—an intended provision for the departed’s transitional state associated with the cremation-ground.

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

It reflects the Garuda Purana’s preta-stage model: immediately after death, the departed is treated as a preta requiring specific ritual provisions (like piṇḍa) before onward movement and stabilization through prescribed rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow a consistent, tradition-aligned procedure (pūrva-ukta-vidhi) in funeral offerings—performing piṇḍa-dāna with care and intention as part of disciplined antyeṣṭi observance.