Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

पुष्पाक्षतैश्च संपूज्य देवं क्रव्यादसंज्ञकम् / श्रौतेन तु विधानेन ह्याहिताग्निं दहेद्वुधः

Transliteration

puṣpākṣataiśca saṃpūjya devaṃ kravyādasaṃjñakam / śrautena tu vidhānena hyāhitāgniṃ dahedvudhaḥ

Translation

Having duly worshipped the deity known as Kravyāda with flowers and unbroken rice-grains, the wise person should then cremate the āhitāgni—one who has maintained the sacred fires—according to the śrauta (Vedic) procedure.

Word by Word

• पुष्पाक्षतैः: with flowers and unbroken rice grains
• पुष्पाक्षतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative): पुष्पाणि च अक्षतानि च; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहारद्वन्द्व), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

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

• संपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• संपूज्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: पूज्, उपसर्ग: सम्; अर्थ: सम्यक् पूजनं कृत्वा

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• क्रव्यादसंज्ञकम्: named ‘Kravyāda’
• क्रव्यादसंज्ञकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रव्याद (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: क्रव्याद-इति-संज्ञक (named ‘kravyāda’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘देवम्’

• श्रौतेन: by the Vedic (śrauta)
• श्रौतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रौत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘विधानेन’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• विधानेन: by the prescribed procedure
• विधानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• हि: certainly
• हि: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक निपात (certainly/for)

• आहिताग्निम्: one who has established the sacred fire (āhitāgni)
• आहिताग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: आहितः अग्निः यस्य सः (one who has established the sacred fire); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दहेत्: should burn/cremate
• दहेत्: Kriya (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बुधः: a wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Preta (deceased āhitāgni)

Timing: antyeṣṭi (cremation proper)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For one who maintained sacred fires (āhitāgni), last rites should align with śrauta procedure; ritual status shapes ritual obligation

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṃskāra as orderly discharge of duties (ṛṇa-traya) before higher pursuit

Application: Match funerary rites to the deceased’s vows/ritual commitments; perform offerings with reverence (flowers, akṣata) and procedural correctness

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: cremation ground (antyeṣṭi-vedi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.65 on kravyāda worship and body-offering; Garuda Purana 2.4.62 on vedi and agni establishment

Characters & Entities

• Kravyāda
• Agni
• Āhitāgni

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Kravyāda in Garuda Purana funeral rites?

This verse indicates that honoring Kravyāda—an aspect of the funerary fire—ritually sanctifies the cremation, aligning the act with Vedic order before the body is consigned to fire.

How does this verse explain the correct method of cremation for an āhitāgni?

It specifies that an āhitāgni (one who maintained sacred fires) should be cremated strictly by śrauta injunctions, implying a more formally Vedic procedure than ordinary rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform last rites with reverence and scriptural guidance—using simple offerings like flowers and akṣata—and, where applicable, follow the appropriate Vedic tradition for the deceased’s life-stage and vows.