Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

जलावघट्टनं चव न कुर्युः स्नानकारकाः / ततस्तटे समागत्य शिखां बद्ध्वा ऋजून् कुशान्

Transliteration

jalāvaghaṭṭanaṃ cava na kuryuḥ snānakārakāḥ / tatastaṭe samāgatya śikhāṃ baddhvā ṛjūn kuśān

Translation

Those performing the ritual bath should not agitate or splash the water. Then, coming to the riverbank, having tied up the śikhā (topknot), they should take straight darbha (kuśa) grasses in hand.

Word by Word

• जलावघट्टनम्: splashing/agitating the water
• जलावघट्टनम्: Karma (Object of न कुर्युः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल-अवघट्टन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: जले अवघट्टनम् (splashing/agitating in water); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय अव्यय (conjunction)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध अव्यय (negation)

• कुर्युः: should do
• कुर्युः: Karta (Predicate verb of स्नानकारकाः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपदम्

• स्नानकारकाः: those performing the bath
• स्नानकारकाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान-कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: स्नानं कारयन्ति/कुर्वन्ति इति (those performing bathing); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thereafter/from there)

• तटे: on the bank
• तटे: Adhikarana (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• समागत्य: having come/approached
• समागत्य: Kriya-viseshana (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive)

• शिखाम्: topknot
• शिखाम्: Karma (Object of बद्ध्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• बद्ध्वा: having tied
• बद्ध्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive)

• ऋजून्: straight
• ऋजून्: Visheshana (Qualifier of कुशान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋजु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कुशान्: kuśa grass (blades)
• कुशान्: Karma (Object implied: to take/place)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after purificatory bath, before offerings.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on restraint and exact procedure—avoid splashing; prepare śikhā and kuśa properly.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) as outer form of inner steadiness; karma performed with saṃskāra and attention.

Application: In rites, minimize disturbance and distractions; prepare materials (kuśa) neatly and follow sequence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.73: silent immersion; Garuda Purana 2.4.75: tila-jala in añjali

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Kuśa (Darbha grass)

FAQs

What is the importance of not splashing or agitating water during ritual bathing in the Garuda Purana?

It emphasizes disciplined, sattvic purification—bathing is treated as a solemn rite, not casual play, especially in death-related observances where restraint and ritual focus are required.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly, it supports the larger Preta-kāṇḍa framework: correct rites and purity-conduct by the living aid the deceased’s transition and reduce obstacles caused by improper ritual behavior.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing any sacred bath or post-funeral observance, maintain calmness and decorum, follow traditional steps (including use of darbha/kuśa where customary), and treat purification as mindful practice rather than hurried routine.