Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

छत्रो पानहवस्त्राणि मुद्रिका च कमण्डलुः / आसनं भाजनं पदं चाष्टविधं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

chatro pānahavastrāṇi mudrikā ca kamaṇḍaluḥ / āsanaṃ bhājanaṃ padaṃ cāṣṭavidhaṃ smṛtam

Translation

An umbrella, footwear, garments, a signet ring, and a kamaṇḍalu (water-pot); also a seat, a vessel, and provisions for the journey—these are remembered as the eight essential articles.

Word by Word

• chatraḥ: umbrella
• chatraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• pānahavastrāṇi: sandals and garments
• pānahavastrāṇi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pānaha (प्रातिपदिक) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (pānahaś ca vastraṃ ca)

• mudrikā: ring/seal-ring
• mudrikā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudrikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• kamaṇḍaluḥ: water-pot (kamandalu)
• kamaṇḍaluḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamaṇḍalu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• āsanam: seat
• āsanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• bhājanam: vessel/container
• bhājanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhājana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• padam: footstool/foot-related item
• padam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• aṣṭavidham: eightfold/of eight kinds
• aṣṭavidham: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (aṣṭānāṃ vidhānām)

• smṛtam: is declared
• smṛtam: Kriyā (Verbal predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोग; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; 'is said/considered'

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Antima-kāla and immediate post-death charity associated with ekoddiṣṭa stream.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Providing supportive instruments through dāna to mitigate hardship and secure auspicious passage.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s continuity beyond death; ritual action as shaping subtle experience; also a lesson in non-attachment to possessions.

Application: Offer practical items (clothing, footwear, water-vessel, seat, utensils) as charity in funerary/terminal contexts; interpret as compassionate support.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: liminal route-symbolism

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of the soul’s journey and need for supports; ‘path’ imagery recurring; Garuda Purana: lists of antima-kāla dāna articles (umbrella, footwear, water-pot, etc.)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of the aṣṭavidha (eightfold) articles in the Garuda Purana?

This verse enumerates the traditionally prescribed eight essentials that symbolize support and preparedness for the post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By listing travel-necessities (shade, footwear, water-pot, seat, vessel, and provisions), the text frames the after-death passage as a journey for which ritual provisions are conceptually offered to aid the preta.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages disciplined, dharmic preparation—performing prescribed rites carefully and cultivating a life of simplicity and readiness, remembering life’s impermanence and responsibility.