Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

प्राचीनावीतिनः सर्वे विशेयुर्मौनिनो जलम् / अपनः शोशुचदघमनेन पितृदिङ्मुखाः

Transliteration

prācīnāvītinaḥ sarve viśeyurmaunino jalam / apanaḥ śośucadaghamanena pitṛdiṅmukhāḥ

Translation

All should enter the water in the prācīnāvīta manner (with the sacred thread worn for rites to the Pitṛs), remaining silent and facing the direction of the Pitṛs; by this act the impurity of sin is dried up and cleansed away.

Word by Word

• प्राचीनावीतिनः: wearing the thread in the prācīna position
• प्राचीनावीतिनः: Visheshana (Qualifier of सर्वे)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राचीन-आवीतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: प्राचीनं आवीतिः यस्य (wearing the sacred thread in the prācīna manner); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विशेयुः: should enter
• विशेयुः: Karta (Predicate verb of सर्वे)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपदम्

• मौनिनः: observing silence
• मौनिनः: Visheshana (Qualifier of सर्वे)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मौनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपनः: Apāna (vital air)
• अपनः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); प्राणवायुविशेषः (a vital air)

• शोशुचत्: purified/cleansed
• शोशुचत्: Karta (Predicate verb of अपनः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• अघम्: sin
• अघम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• पितृदिङ्मुखाः: facing the ancestral (southern) direction
• पितृदिङ्मुखाः: Visheshana (Qualifier of सर्वे)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ-दिक्-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: पितॄणां दिक् (याम्या) मुखं येषाम् (facing the direction of the Pitṛs); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately before/within funeral and śrāddha preliminaries (purificatory bath).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual purity is restored through prescribed conduct: prācīnāvīta, mauna, and directional alignment to Pitṛs.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as a discipline that steadies mind and community order; śauca as outer support for inner composure.

Application: During śrāddha/funeral bathing, follow silence and correct thread orientation; treat purification as mindful practice, not mere washing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.74: rules for bathing without splashing; Garuda Purana 2.4.75: tila-jala offering and Yama direction

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of prācīnāvīta in the Garuda Purana’s death-ritual context?

This verse highlights prācīnāvīta as the correct sacred-thread orientation for Pitṛ-related rites, marking the act as explicitly ancestral and aligned with prescribed purification discipline.

How does this verse explain purification after death-related rites?

It prescribes a specific method—entering water in silence while facing the Pitṛ-direction—stating that this disciplined observance cleanses and dries up impurity and sin (agha/apanaḥ).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During śrāddha/ancestral observances, maintain reverence: follow the correct ritual orientation (prācīnāvīta), practice restraint (mauna), and treat purification acts as mindful, not merely mechanical.