Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 15

The Explanation of the Post-funeral Rites (Aurdhvadehika) and Related Matters

Devanagari script

आचार्यस्तस्य शिष्यो वा यो दूरे ऽपि हि गात्रेजः / नारायणबलिं कुर्यात् तस्याद्देशेन भक्तितः

Transliteration

ācāryastasya śiṣyo vā yo dūre 'pi hi gātrejaḥ / nārāyaṇabaliṃ kuryāt tasyāddeśena bhaktitaḥ

Translation

Même s’il se trouve au loin, l’ācārya (maître) du défunt, ou son disciple, ou un proche parent peut accomplir pour lui le Nārāyaṇa-bali, avec dévotion, selon son instruction ou son autorisation.

Word by Word

• आचार्यः: teacher
• आचार्यः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• शिष्यः: disciple
• शिष्यः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध/निपात (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle: or)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; relative pronoun referring to ācārya/śiṣya

• दूरे: far away
• दूरे: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th) एकवचन used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषण) = 'far away'

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) = 'even/also'

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• गात्रेजः: a son
• गात्रेजः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गात्रात् जायते) = 'born of the body' i.e., son

• नारायण-बलिम्: Nārāyaṇa-offering (bali)
• नारायण-बलिम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष = 'offering to Nārāyaṇa'

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• आदेशेन: by (his) instruction
• आदेशेन: करण (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental = 'by/according to instruction'

• भक्तितः: with devotion
• भक्तितः: हेतु (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (5th) एकवचन used adverbially (तसिल्-अर्थ) = 'out of devotion/with devotion'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa) instructing Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed when needed for preta-śānti (often within the post-death period or when obstruction is known)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nārāyaṇa-bali, performed with bhakti by authorized proxies, can act on behalf of the deceased even at a distance.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-centered expiation: devotion to Nārāyaṇa mediates purification and relief beyond ordinary limitations of place.

Application: When direct descendants are absent/unavailable, arrange Nārāyaṇa-bali through teacher, disciple, or close kin; ensure proper sankalpa and devotional intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-site (can be distant from deceased’s home)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Nārāyaṇa-bali as preta-śānti and release mechanism (contextual internal parallel); Garuda Purana: rules on who may perform rites when heirs are absent (general internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of Nārāyaṇa-bali in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Nārāyaṇa-bali as a valid, devotion-centered rite for the departed that can be carried out even when the primary family performer is unavailable.

Who is allowed to perform Nārāyaṇa-bali if the family is far away?

The verse permits the deceased person’s ācārya (teacher), śiṣya (disciple), or a close relative (gātreja) to perform it, provided it is done with devotion and proper authorization.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If travel or circumstances prevent immediate family from performing rites, one may arrange an authorized, sincere performance by a qualified teacher/representative, prioritizing faith, correctness, and intention.