Shloka 95

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

Devanagari script

मृते भर्तरि या नारी समारोहेद्धुताशनम् / सारन्धतीसमाचारा स्वर्गलोके महीयते

Transliteration

mṛte bhartari yā nārī samāroheddhutāśanam / sārandhatīsamācārā svargaloke mahīyate

Translation

When her husband has died, the woman who ascends the blazing fire—conducting herself like Arundhatī—is honored in the heavenly world.

Word by Word

• मृते: when (he is) dead
• मृते: Adhikarana (Circumstantial locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) ‘मृत’; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• भर्तरि: in/when the husband
• भर्तरि: Adhikarana (Circumstantial locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी

• या: who
• या: Karta (Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक

• नारी: woman
• नारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समारोहेत्: should ascend/mount
• समारोहेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + √रुह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धुताशनम्: the fire
• धुताशनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धुत + अशन्/आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘धुतं (दग्धं) अश्नाति’/‘धूतः आशनः’ इति—अग्निः (fire)

• सारन्धतीसमाचारा: having conduct like Arundhatī
• सारन्धतीसमाचारा: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सा + अरुन्धती + समाचारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अरुन्धत्याः समाचारा’ (conduct like Arundhatī)

• स्वर्गलोके: in heaven-world
• स्वर्गलोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• महीयते: is honored, is glorified
• महीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग/आत्मनेपद—‘महीयते’ = ‘पूज्यते/सम्मान्यते’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after husband’s death (context of cremation/antyeṣṭi)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The verse endorses the act of ascending the funeral fire after the husband’s death, equating it with Arundhatī-like conduct and promising svarga honor.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma framed as a means to svarga (karma-phala); not mokṣa-oriented, but ritual-ethical causality is foregrounded.

Application: Historically reflects a contested strī-dharma ideal; in contemporary application, treat as a window into Purāṇic social theology rather than a prescriptive norm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cremation ground / funeral fire (implicit)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.96 (explicit claim about release from woman’s body)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Arundhati
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the importance of Arundhatī-like conduct in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Arundhatī as the archetype of steadfast marital dharma; aligning one’s conduct with that ideal is said here to lead to honor in Svarga.

How does this verse explain the after-death outcome (Svarga) for certain actions?

It links a specific ritual act—ascending the funeral fire after the husband’s death—with a stated result: being glorified in the heavenly realm.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Take the core teaching as emphasis on dharmic integrity and steadfastness in conduct; in practice, many apply it by upholding ethical fidelity, self-discipline, and sincere observance of family and spiritual duties.