Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

संमृज्य चोपलिप्याथ उल्लिख्योद्धृत्य वेदिकाम् / अभ्युक्ष्योपसमाधाय वह्निं तत्र विधानतः

Transliteration

saṃmṛjya copalipyātha ullikhyoddhṛtya vedikām / abhyukṣyopasamādhāya vahniṃ tatra vidhānataḥ

Translation

Having swept the place and smeared it with a purifying coating, one should mark out and prepare the altar-platform; then, having sprinkled it with water, one should duly kindle and establish the sacred fire there according to the prescribed rite.

Word by Word

• संमृज्य: having cleaned
• संमृज्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + मृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: मृज्, उपसर्ग: सम्; क्रिया-पूर्वकत्व (having done)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• उपलिप्य: having plastered/smeared
• उपलिप्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + लिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: लिप्, उपसर्ग: उप; क्रिया-पूर्वकत्व

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (क्रमसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• उल्लिख्य: having scraped/marked out
• उल्लिख्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: लिख्, उपसर्ग: उद्; अर्थ: उत्खनन/उल्लेखन (scraping/marking)

• उद्धृत्य: having lifted/removed
• उद्धृत्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: धृ, उपसर्ग: उद्; अर्थ: उत्थापन (having lifted/removed)

• वेदिकाम्: the altar/platform
• वेदिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अभ्युक्ष्य: having sprinkled (water)
• अभ्युक्ष्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + उक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: उक्ष्, उपसर्ग: अभि; अर्थ: प्रोक्षण (having sprinkled)

• उपसमाधाय: having properly set/arranged
• उपसमाधाय: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + सम् + आ + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: धा, उपसर्गाः: उप-सम्-आ; अर्थ: सम्यक् स्थापयित्वा (having properly arranged/placed)

• वह्निम्: fire
• वह्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• विधानतः: according to the prescribed rule
• विधानतः: Kriya (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित/अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘विधानतः’ = विधानेन/विधानानुसारम् (according to rule)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Preta (deceased)

Timing: antyeṣṭi (pre-cremation agni-kārya preparation)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual purity and correct sequence (vidhi-krama) as dharma in saṃskāra

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purificatory discipline (citta-śuddhi) preparing the mind for higher knowledge

Application: Before any solemn rite, clean and delineate the space, establish clear boundaries, and begin only after intentional consecration (sprinkling, arranging, lighting)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual ground (vedikā/altar-platform)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4 (antyeṣṭi/agnikārya-krama context); Adjacent verses 2.4.63–66 on kravyāda and cremation offerings

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Vedi (altar-platform)

FAQs

What is the importance of preparing the vedi and lighting Agni in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse emphasizes ritual purity and correct setup of the altar; establishing Agni “according to rule” is presented as a foundational step for properly performed antyeṣṭi rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

By outlining the correct commencement of funeral rites—purifying the site and establishing Agni—it indicates that orderly ritual performance supports the intended post-death transition and the prescribed journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness, intentional preparation, and adherence to authentic procedure (with qualified guidance) when performing rites; even outside ritual contexts, it teaches disciplined, reverent preparation before any sacred duty.