Shloka 65
Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths
उपसंहर तस्मात्त्वमेनं स्वर्गं नयामृतम् / इति क्रव्यादमभ्यर्च्य शरीराहुतिमाचरेत्
upasaṃhara tasmāttvamenaṃ svargaṃ nayāmṛtam / iti kravyādamabhyarcya śarīrāhutimācaret
“Therefore, gather him up and lead this immortal one to heaven.” Having thus worshipped Kravyāda—the flesh-eating fire, the cremation fire—one should perform the offering of the body as an oblation (āhuti).
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra within the Preta Kanda dialogue context)
Afterlife Stage: Svarga
Beneficiary: Preta (deceased)
Timing: during cremation—body offering (śarīrāhuti)
Concept: Agni as mediator who ‘gathers’ the embodied being and conveys onward; the body is offered, while the jīva proceeds by karma and divine ordinance
Vedantic Theme: Distinction between perishable body and continuing self; surrender of the body as a rite of passage within saṃsāra
Application: In bereavement, combine prayer for the departed’s welfare with completion of necessary duties; let ritual closure support acceptance
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: antyeṣṭi-vedi/citā
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.63 on worship of Kravyāda; Garuda Purana 2.4.66 on ghee oblation at half-burnt stage
FAQs
This verse frames cremation as a sacred oblation: the body is offered into kravyāda (cremation fire) after honoring it, completing the last rite while affirming the soul’s deathless nature (amṛta).
By calling the departed “amṛta” (immortal), the verse distinguishes the imperishable self from the perishable body; the rite completes bodily disposal while ritually directing the departed toward svarga (a higher post-death state).
Perform last rites with reverence and clarity of intent: honor the sacredness of the cremation process, and remember that the person’s true self is not the body—supporting grief with dharmic perspective.