Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

गृह्णीयाच्चेदनशनं व्रतं विधिवदागते / मृत्यौ न सो ऽपि संसारे भूयः पर्यटति द्विज

Transliteration

gṛhṇīyāccedanaśanaṃ vrataṃ vidhivadāgate / mṛtyau na so 'pi saṃsāre bhūyaḥ paryaṭati dvija

Translation

Ô deux-fois-né, si, lorsque l’heure prescrite est venue, quelqu’un entreprend selon le rite le vœu de jeûne (anāśana), alors, même à l’instant de la mort, il ne retourne plus errer dans ce saṃsāra.

Word by Word

• गृह्णीयात्: should undertake/accept
• गृह्णीयात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-निपातः (if)

• अनशनम्: fasting (abstaining from food)
• अनशनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; अनशनस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• विधिवत्: duly
• विधिवत्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित-अव्यय)
• Form: वतिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (duly, according to rule)

• आगते: when (it) has come
• आगते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; (मरणे) आगते—'when (death) has come'

• मृत्यौ: at death
• मृत्यौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपातः

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (also/even)

• संसारे: in worldly existence
• संसारे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• भूयः: again
• भूयः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययम् (again, further)

• पर्यटति: wanders about
• पर्यटति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√अट् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• द्विज: O twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (8th/Vocative), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra, addressing the listener as 'dvija')

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Duly undertaken fasting-vow at the proper time prevents further saṃsāric wandering even at death.

Vedantic Theme: Purification and inward turning (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi) through restraint; death as culmination of sādhanā rather than mere cessation.

Application: Adopt disciplined fasting or simplified intake with proper guidance and intention; pair restraint with japa, prayer, and forgiveness practices, especially in terminal phases.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.37 (antya-kāla saṃnyāsa); Garuda Purana 2.4.38 (tīrtha-journey merit); Garuda Purana 2.4.40-41 (transition to post-death rites)

Characters & Entities

• Dvija

FAQs

What is the importance of the anaśana (fasting) vow in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that undertaking the prescribed fasting vow at the proper time is a powerful dharmic observance connected with release from repeated wandering in saṃsāra, even when death arrives.

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

It links right observance (vrata) at life’s end with a different post-death outcome: instead of continuing the cycle of roaming through worldly states (rebirth), the person is said to avoid returning to saṃsāra.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow end-of-life religious disciplines under proper guidance—cultivating restraint, clarity, and dharmic preparation—rather than living carelessly and seeking last-minute remedies.