Shloka 78

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

Devanagari script

जलाञ्जलौ कृते पश्चाद्विधेयं दन्तधावनम् / त्यजन्ति गोत्रिणः सर्वे दिनानि नव काश्यप

Transliteration

jalāñjalau kṛte paścādvidheyaṃ dantadhāvanam / tyajanti gotriṇaḥ sarve dināni nava kāśyapa

Translation

After offering the water-oblation (jalāñjali), one should then perform the cleansing of the teeth. O Kāśyapa, all who belong to the same gotra refrain from this act for nine days.

Word by Word

• जलाञ्जलौ: in the water-offering (handful of water)
• जलाञ्जलौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जलस्य अञ्जलिः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) अञ्जलि-शब्दः; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृते: after it has been done
• कृते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सप्तमी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) (सप्तमी-absolute)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (afterwards)

• विधेयम्: to be done/should be performed
• विधेयम्: Vidhi (Predicate obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-धा (धातु) → विधेय (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्तव्यतार्थक (gerundive/तव्यत्-भाव), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दन्तधावनम्: tooth-cleaning
• दन्तधावनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त + धावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दन्तानां धावनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्यजन्ति: they avoid/abandon
• त्यजन्ति: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपद

• गोत्रिणः: kinsmen of the same lineage
• गोत्रिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोत्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दिनानि: days
• दिनानि: Kāla-adhikarana (Temporal extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural) (कालपरिमाण)

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक विशेषण (numeral), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural) (दिनानि इति सह)

• काश्यप: O Kāśyapa
• काश्यप: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra; addressing him as Kāśyapa)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after jalāñjali; restriction observed for nine days by gotra members

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aśauca discipline: certain acts are restricted for a defined period (nine days) for gotra members after death rites.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as social-ritual order (niyama) that stabilizes mind and community during liminal death-period; karma is shaped by observance.

Application: Follow prescribed mourning restrictions and timing; coordinate family observances to avoid ritual impurity and social discord.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: water-source/ghāṭ and household ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana aśauca and śrāddha procedural passages around 2.4.xx; Garuda Purana guidance on post-cremation bathing and conduct (adjacent verses)

Characters & Entities

• Kashyapa
• Gotra members

FAQs

What is the importance of jalāñjali in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse places jalāñjali as a key post-death water-offering act, after which other daily acts are regulated by rules of mourning impurity (aśauca) for the family/lineage.

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

While it does not directly describe the preta’s route, it specifies the living relatives’ disciplined conduct during the early post-death period, which the Garuda Purana treats as supportive dharma around the deceased’s transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow culturally and family-tradition–appropriate mourning observances with restraint and cleanliness, and consult a qualified priest/tradition for the correct duration and rules for your gotra and region.