Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

कनिष्ठपूर्वाः स्नानार्थं गच्छेयुः सूक्तजापकाः / ततो जालसमीपे तु गत्वा प्रक्षाल्य चांशुकम्

Transliteration

kaniṣṭhapūrvāḥ snānārthaṃ gaccheyuḥ sūktajāpakāḥ / tato jālasamīpe tu gatvā prakṣālya cāṃśukam

Translation

The youngest should go first for bathing, while the reciters of sacred hymns proceed. Then, having gone near the water-source, one should wash and cleanse the cloth as well.

Word by Word

• कनिष्ठपूर्वाः: with the youngest leading
• कनिष्ठपूर्वाः: Visheshana (Qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनिष्ठ + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक; कनिष्ठ-पूर्व)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्—‘कनिष्ठः पूर्वः येषाम्’/‘कनिष्ठः अग्रे’ (with the youngest in front)

• स्नानार्थम्: for bathing
• स्नानार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्नान + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; स्नान-अर्थ)
• Form: अर्थ-समासान्त/अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणम्—‘स्नानाय’ (for bathing)

• गच्छेयुः: should go
• गच्छेयुः: Kriya (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• सूक्तजापकाः: hymn-chanters/reciters
• सूक्तजापकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्त + जापक (प्रातिपदिक; सूक्त-जापक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘सूक्तस्य जापकाः’ (reciters of hymns)

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

• जालसमीपे: near the jāla (water-place)
• जालसमीपे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाल + समीप (प्रातिपदिक; जाल-समीप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘जालस्य समीपे’ (near the water/stream; lit. net/mesh—contextually a water-place)

• तु: indeed/and then
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

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

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Kriya (Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्षल् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having washed/cleansed)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction), अव्यय

• अंशुकम्: cloth/garment
• अंशुकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after leaving the cremation ground, as part of post-antyeṣṭi purification.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Post-cremation purification is structured: hierarchy/order (youngest first), mantra-japa, and cleansing of garments restore śauca.

Vedantic Theme: External śauca supports internal śama; disciplined action steadies the mind after loss.

Application: Proceed to bathe in prescribed order; maintain mantra recitation; wash ritual cloth near water to complete purification steps.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: water-body/ghāṭa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śauca rules after antayeṣṭi—snāna, vastra-śuddhi, mantra-japa

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of bathing and cleansing in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse emphasizes śauca (ritual purity): participants should bathe and also wash the cloth, indicating that physical cleanliness supports the sanctity and correctness of post-death observances.

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

While not describing the soul’s path directly, it sets the ritual discipline around death rites; orderly, pure conduct by the living is presented as part of dharma that supports proper śrāddha-related duties connected to the preta context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and order during sacred rites: bathe, keep garments clean, and follow an agreed sequence—treating ritual actions with care, attention, and respect.