Shloka 66

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

Devanagari script

अर्धदग्धे तथा देहे दद्यादाज्याहुतिं ततः / अस्मात्त्वमधिजातो ऽसि त्वदयं जायतां पुनः

Transliteration

ardhadagdhe tathā dehe dadyādājyāhutiṃ tataḥ / asmāttvamadhijāto 'si tvadayaṃ jāyatāṃ punaḥ

Translation

When the body has been only half-burnt, one should then offer an oblation of ghee. (Saying:) “From this you have arisen; may this body be born again through you.”

Word by Word

• अर्धदग्धे: in the half-burnt (state)
• अर्धदग्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + दग्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: अर्धं दग्धः (half-burnt); पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘देहे’

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (thus/in that manner)

• देहे: in the body
• देहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should offer/give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आज्याहुतिम्: an oblation of ghee
• आज्याहुतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आहुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: आज्यस्य आहुतिḥ (ghee-offering); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (क्रमसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• अस्मात्: from me
• अस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

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

• अधिजातः: born from; sprung from
• अधिजातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि + जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘त्वम्’; अर्थ: अधि-उत्पन्न (born from/derived from)

• असि: are
• असि: Kriya (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present Indicative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वत्: from you
• त्वत्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• जायताम्: let (him) be born
• जायताम्: Kriya (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; अर्थ: उत्पद्यताम् (let him be born)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक अव्यय (again)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Preta (deceased)

Timing: during cremation—when the body is half-burnt (ardha-dagdha)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Agni as transformative womb: beings arise from and return through elemental processes; oblation supports orderly dissolution and future becoming

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra-cakra and pañca-bhūta dissolution; the self continues while forms transform

Application: Complete processes fully (do not leave ‘half-done’ transitions); use a final sanctifying act and a meaningful intention to mark closure

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: citā/antyeṣṭi fire-site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.65 on śarīrāhuti and prayer for svarga; Garuda Purana 2.4.62–63 on establishing and worshipping Kravyāda

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Deha (body)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering ghee (ājyāhuti) in Garuda Purana funeral rites?

This verse prescribes ājyāhuti as a corrective/continuing fire-offering when cremation is incomplete, reinforcing Agni’s ritual role in completing the rite and restoring proper saṃskāra sequence.

How does this verse relate to the journey of the soul after death in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing correct cremation procedure, the verse supports the broader Preta Kanda theme that proper rites help stabilize post-death transitions; ritual completeness is presented as essential to orderly passage rather than disruption.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights the principle of completing last rites carefully and respectfully; in modern practice, families can ensure procedures are performed by qualified priests and in accordance with local dharma-śāstra tradition.