Shloka 79

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

Devanagari script

तत उत्तीर्योदकाद्वै वस्त्राणि परिधाय च / स्नानवस्त्रं सकृत्पीड्य विशेयुः शुचिभूतले

Transliteration

tata uttīryodakādvai vastrāṇi paridhāya ca / snānavastraṃ sakṛtpīḍya viśeyuḥ śucibhūtale

Translation

Then, having come up out of the water, they should put on their garments; and after squeezing the bathing cloth once, they should sit down upon a clean and purified spot of ground.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तदस्)
• Form: अपादान/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (thereupon/from that)

• उत्तीर्य: having come out (crossed)
• उत्तीर्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-तॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable)

• उदकात्: from the water
• उदकात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक अव्यय (indeed)

• वस्त्राणि: garments
• वस्त्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• परिधाय: having put on
• परिधाय: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्नानवस्त्रम्: the bathing cloth
• स्नानवस्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (स्नानस्य वस्त्रम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/आवृत्तिवाचक अव्यय (once)

• पीड्य: having squeezed/pressed
• पीड्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पीड् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive) (ल्यप्-रूप), अव्ययभाव

• विशेयुः: they should enter
• विशेयुः: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपद

• शुचि: pure/clean
• शुचि: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (Singular) (भूतले इति सह)

• भूतले: on the ground/floor
• भूतले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-bath, before sitting for subsequent śrāddha-related proceedings

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca and procedural correctness: after bathing, wear garments properly, manage the bathing cloth, and sit on purified ground.

Vedantic Theme: Outer purity as support for inner steadiness (sattva) in karma-yoga; disciplined action without agitation.

Application: After ritual bathing, change appropriately and choose a clean place to sit before continuing ceremonies or listening to instruction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: water-body bank and clean ground (śuci-bhūmi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana post-cremation bathing and seating instructions (adjacent verses 2.4.78–2.4.81)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of squeezing the bathing cloth (snānavastra) in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats it as part of post-bath purity: the cloth is wrung once and then one sits on clean ground, signaling completion of the cleansing act without carelessness or dripping impurity.

How does this verse explain the role of purity in Garuda Purana rituals?

It emphasizes ordered transition from water-purification to dry purity—changing into clothes and taking one’s place on a clean surface—showing that ritual cleanliness includes both body and surroundings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

After any sacred bath or prayer-washing, change into clean clothes, keep the bathing cloth properly handled, and choose a clean place to sit—maintaining attentiveness to hygiene and ritual discipline.