Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

रोदितव्यं ततो गाढमेवं तस्य सुखं भवेत् / दाहस्यानन्तरं तत्र कृत्वा सञ्चयनिक्रियाम्

Transliteration

roditavyaṃ tato gāḍhamevaṃ tasya sukhaṃ bhavet / dāhasyānantaraṃ tatra kṛtvā sañcayanikriyām

Translation

Therefore one should weep deeply; by doing so, comfort arises for that departed one. Then, after the cremation, one should there perform the rite of collection and gathering of the remains.

Word by Word

• रोदितव्यम्: should be wept/crying is to be done
• रोदितव्यम्: Kriya (Obligatory action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुद् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligation), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; भावे प्रयोगः—‘रोदितव्यम्’ (it should be cried/wept)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, काल/क्रमवाचक (then/thereafter)

• गाढम्: intensely
• गाढम्: Kriya-viseshana (Manner adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गाढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative), अर्थः—‘तीव्रम्’ (intensely)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb), अव्यय

• तस्य: of him/of that (person)
• तस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सुखम्: happiness/comfort
• सुखम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवेत्: may be/would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• दाहस्य: of the cremation/burning
• दाहस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अनन्तरम्: afterwards/immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Kriya-viseshana (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative), अर्थः—‘तत्क्षणानन्तरम्’ (immediately after)

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

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• सञ्चयनिक्रियाम्: the collection rite (of remains)
• सञ्चयनिक्रियाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सञ्चयनी + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक; सञ्चयनी-क्रिया)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘सञ्चयन्याः क्रिया’ (the rite of collecting [bones/ashes])

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after cremation (dāha) when performing sañcayana (asthi-saṅgraha).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Grief is acknowledged as part of dharmic mourning, and sañcayana is a required rite completing the transition after cremation.

Vedantic Theme: Acceptance of impermanence (anityatā) and orderly performance of saṃskāra as a stabilizer for mind and family dharma.

Application: Allow sincere mourning without suppression; after cremation, perform sañcayana carefully and respectfully as prescribed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cremation site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: antayeṣṭi sequence—dāha followed by sañcayana and subsequent śrāddha steps

Characters & Entities

• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of sañcayana (collection of remains) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places sañcayana immediately after cremation as a required post-death rite, indicating an orderly completion of antyeṣṭi duties for the departed (preta).

How does this verse relate mourning to the departed soul’s condition?

It states that intense weeping is followed by the departed one’s comfort, presenting mourning as a meaningful human response within the ritual sequence surrounding death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Complete funeral duties in proper order—allow grief its place, and then perform the post-cremation collection rite responsibly and respectfully.