Shloka 80

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

Devanagari script

अश्रुपातं न कुर्वीत दत्त्वा दाहजलाञ्जलिम् / श्लेष्माश्रु बान्धवैर्मुक्तं प्रेतो भुङ्क्ते यतो ऽवशः

Transliteration

aśrupātaṃ na kurvīta dattvā dāhajalāñjalim / śleṣmāśru bāndhavairmuktaṃ preto bhuṅkte yato 'vaśaḥ

Translation

After offering the water-libation connected with the cremation rites (dāha-jalāñjali), one should not let tears fall. For the preta, helpless, is said to consume the mucus and tears released by the relatives.

Word by Word

• अश्रुपातम्: shedding of tears
• अश्रुपातम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रु + पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (अश्रूणां पातः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• कुर्वीत: should do
• कुर्वीत: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• दाहजलाञ्जलिम्: a handful of water for the funeral rite
• दाहजलाञ्जलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाह + जल + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (दाहे/दाहार्थं जलस्य अञ्जलिः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) अञ्जलि-शब्दः; द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्लेष्माश्रु: phlegm and tears (bodily fluids)
• श्लेष्माश्रु: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लेष्मन् + अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (श्लेष्म च अश्रु च), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular) (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

• बान्धवैः: by the relatives
• बान्धवैः: Karana (Instrument/कर्ता-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मुक्तम्: released/let out
• मुक्तम्: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) → मुक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रेतः: the departed spirit (preta)
• प्रेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भुङ्क्ते: eats/consumes
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक अव्यय (because/for)

• अवशः: helpless/involuntarily
• अवशः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular) (प्रेतस्य विशेषण)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During/after dāha-jalāñjali connected with cremation rites

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Excessive weeping is discouraged because it is believed to materially affect the preta, who consumes relatives’ mucus/tears; compassion expressed through disciplined rite, not uncontrolled lament.

Vedantic Theme: Attachment (śoka) binds; regulated action and equanimity reduce harm and support the departed—karma operates through subtle connections between living and dead.

Application: During last rites, maintain composure; channel grief into completing prescribed offerings and prayers rather than prolonged crying at the ritual moment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: cremation-rite setting (śmaśāna/antyeṣṭi context)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa teachings on preta’s dependence on offerings and relatives’ conduct (multiple passages in Pretakalpa); Adjacent verses 2.4.81 on not weeping and doing rites as able

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Bandhavas (relatives)

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding tears (aśrupāta) in Garuda Purana funeral guidance?

This verse teaches that after the ritual water-offering, excessive weeping is discouraged because the preta is believed to be helplessly affected and to ‘consume’ what relatives release as tears and mucus, symbolizing distress transferred to the departed.

How does this verse explain the condition of the soul in the preta stage?

By calling the preta “avaśa” (helpless), the verse portrays a vulnerable interim state after death where the departed is influenced by the actions and emotional outpourings of the living, hence the emphasis on disciplined rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform the prescribed rites with composure, offer prayers and water respectfully, and channel grief into supportive actions (charity, remembrance, calm chanting) rather than uncontrolled lamentation during the ritual moments.