Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

चण्डालाग्निं चिताग्निं च पतिताग्निं परित्यजेत् / त्वं भूतकृज्जगद्योनिस्त्वं लोकपरिपालकः

Transliteration

caṇḍālāgniṃ citāgniṃ ca patitāgniṃ parityajet / tvaṃ bhūtakṛjjagadyonistvaṃ lokaparipālakaḥ

Translation

One should avoid the fire of a caṇḍāla, the fire of a funeral pyre (citāgni), and the fire associated with the fallen (patita). You are the creator of beings, the womb and source of the universe; you are the protector and ruler of the worlds.

Word by Word

• चण्डालाग्निम्: the fire of a caṇḍāla
• चण्डालाग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध): चण्डालस्य अग्निः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चिताग्निम्: funeral-pyre fire
• चिताग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: चितायाः अग्निः (funeral-pyre fire); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• पतिताग्निम्: a fallen/defiled fire
• पतिताग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: पतितः अग्निः (fallen/defiled fire); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परित्यजेत्: should avoid/abandon
• परित्यजेत्: Kriya (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: परि

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुषार्थे (2nd person pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भूतकृत्: creator of beings
• भूतकृत्: Sambandha (सम्बोधन/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, कर्तृवाचक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: भूतानां कर्ता; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे स्तुति-वाक्ये

• जगद्योनिः: source of the world
• जगद्योनिः: Sambandha (सम्बोधन/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: जगतः योनिḥ (source of the world); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लोकपरिपालकः: protector of the world
• लोकपरिपालकः: Sambandha (सम्बोधन/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + परि + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: लोकस्य परिपालकः (protector of the world); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Preta (deceased)

Timing: antyeṣṭi (selection of proper agni)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avoid impure/unauthorized fires; invoke the supreme source and protector to sanctify the act

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as jagad-yoni and loka-pāla; ritual purity as external expression of inner alignment with ṛta/dharma

Application: In any sacred act, avoid compromised means; choose ethically and ritually appropriate resources, and begin with remembrance of the higher principle

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: ritual environment (selection of proper agni)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.62–63 on establishing and worshipping the proper fire; Garuda Purana 2.4.65 on prayer to lead the deceased to svarga

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding certain fires in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse stresses ritual purity: fires connected with funeral pyres or socially/ritually disapproved sources are to be avoided so that śrāddha and related rites are performed with sanctity and proper dharmic procedure.

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

While not describing the soul’s journey directly, it supports the broader Preta-kāṇḍa theme: correct ritual conduct (especially around death rites and purity) is presented as essential for the departed’s welfare and orderly post-death transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

For ritual contexts, follow reputable tradition and qualified priests for funeral/śrāddha procedures; ethically, the verse reminds practitioners to keep sacred acts free from contamination and to ground them in reverence to the cosmic protector (Vishnu).