Shloka 87

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

Devanagari script

आचम्य वह्निसलिलं गोमयं गौरसर्षपान् / दूर्वाप्रवालं वृषभमन्यदप्यथ मङ्गलम्

Transliteration

ācamya vahnisalilaṃ gomayaṃ gaurasarṣapān / dūrvāpravālaṃ vṛṣabhamanyadapyatha maṅgalam

Translation

Having performed ācamana (the ritual sipping for purification), one should arrange the auspicious items—fire and water, cow-dung, white mustard seeds, dūrvā grass and fresh sprouts, a bull, and whatever else is held to be propitious.

Word by Word

• आचम्य: having sipped (water)
• आचम्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier of main action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√cam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्ग: आ-; ‘having sipped/after sipping (water)’

• वह्नि-सलिलम्: water heated by fire
• वह्नि-सलिलम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/सम्बन्धः ‘fire’s water’ = water heated by fire

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gomaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• गौर-सर্ষपान्: yellow mustard seeds
• गौर-सर্ষपान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaura (प्रातिपदिक) + sarṣapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘gauraḥ sarṣapāḥ’ = yellow/white mustard seeds

• दूर्वा-प्रवालम्: dūrvā grass and sprouts
• दूर्वा-प्रवालम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūrvā (प्रातिपदिक) + pravāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (समाहार) ‘dūrvā ca pravālaṃ ca’

• वृषभम्: a bull
• वृषभम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• अन्यत्: other (things)
• अन्यत्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) ‘also/even’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon)

• मङ्गलम्: auspicious item/auspiciousness
• मङ्गलम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: preliminary to antyeṣṭi/related rites

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mangala-dravya-sangraha and shauca as prerequisites for samskara.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kanda as purifier of the mind (chitta-shuddhi) preparing for higher pursuit.

Application: Begin rites with ācamana and prepare standard auspicious items (agni-jala, gomaya, gaurasarshapa, dūrvā, pallava) with attention and cleanliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (griha/antyeshti-sthala)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Antyeshti context): ācamana, mangala-dravya usage in antyeshti and śrāddha preliminaries (adjacent verses in 2.4)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Cow (implied by gomaya)
• Bull (vṛṣabha)

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious items like dūrvā, mustard, and gomaya in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse lists traditional maṅgala-dravyas used after purification; they are employed to sanctify the rite and remove ritual impurities before proceeding with offerings connected to death-related ceremonies.

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct preparatory purification and auspicious setup, which the Garuda Purana presents as supportive conditions for proper post-death rites that benefit the departed being (preta) through orderly ritual procedure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin any solemn family rite with cleanliness and intentional purification, and follow a consistent, tradition-aligned ritual checklist (under a competent priest/elder guidance) rather than performing ceremonies casually or haphazardly.