Shloka 90

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

Devanagari script

प्रयोग पूर्वं भर्तारं नमस्कृत्यारुहेच्चितिम् / चितिभ्रष्टा तु या मोहात्सा प्राजापत्यमाचरेत्

Transliteration

prayoga pūrvaṃ bhartāraṃ namaskṛtyāruheccitim / citibhraṣṭā tu yā mohātsā prājāpatyamācaret

Translation

Before the rite is carried out, having bowed in reverence to her husband, she should ascend the funeral pyre (citi). But if, through delusion, she slips or falls from the pyre, then she should perform the Prājāpatya expiation.

Word by Word

• प्रयोगम्: the rite/procedure
• प्रयोगम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: first/beforehand
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘before/first’

• भर्तारम्: husband
• भर्तारम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• नमस्कृत्य: having saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund) ‘having saluted’

• आरुहेत्: should ascend
• आरुहेत्: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√ruh (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: आ-

• चितिम्: funeral pyre
• चितिम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• चिति-भ्रष्टा: one who has fallen from the pyre
• चिति-भ्रष्टा: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citi (प्रातिपदिक) + bhraṣṭā (कृदन्त/ppp of √bhraṃś)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘citeḥ bhraṣṭā’ = fallen from the pyre; विशेषणम् (of yā)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• या: who
• या: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• मोहात्: from delusion
• मोहात्: Hetu (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; संकेत/अन्वय (correlative pronoun)

• प्राजापत्यम्: the prājāpatya expiation
• प्राजापत्यम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prājāpatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; (a specific expiatory rite)

• आचरेत्: should perform/practise
• आचरेत्: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√car (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: आ-

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: deceased husband; household dharma order

Timing: during antyeṣṭi at the pyre

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prescriptive anugamana (sahagamana) framed as duty; prāyaścitta (Prājāpatya) as remedy for ritual/ethical rupture caused by moha and mishap.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa’s logic of fault and expiation (doṣa–prāyaścitta) to restore order; the peril of moha (delusion) obscuring discernment.

Application: Textually: if a prescribed act is interrupted by error, perform the stated expiation. Practically today: treat such passages as historical dharma discourse; prioritize safety, consent, and lawful ethics; interpret prāyaścitta as a general principle of accountability and repair.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: cremation ground (śmaśāna) and funeral pyre (citi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4 sequence on anugamana and related rules; mention of Prājāpatya prāyaścitta

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati

FAQs

What is the importance of Prājāpatya prāyaścitta in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse it functions as a corrective expiation when a grave irregularity occurs during a cremation-related act, restoring ritual propriety (dharma) after an unintended lapse.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on death rituals?

It emphasizes strict procedural dharma around death rites and notes that if an error happens due to confusion (mohā), an established penance is prescribed rather than abandoning religious order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow last-rites procedures with guidance from qualified priests and, if mistakes occur unintentionally, perform appropriate remedial rites (prāyaścitta) to maintain reverence and discipline.