Shloka 87

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

Devanagari script

आचम्य वह्निसलिलं गोमयं गौरसर्षपान् / दूर्वाप्रवालं वृषभमन्यदप्यथ मङ्गलम्

Transliteration

ācamya vahnisalilaṃ gomayaṃ gaurasarṣapān / dūrvāpravālaṃ vṛṣabhamanyadapyatha maṅgalam

Translation

Après avoir accompli l’ācamana (geste rituel de purification par l’eau), qu’on dispose les objets de bon augure : le feu et l’eau, la bouse de vache, les graines de moutarde blanche, l’herbe dūrvā et des pousses fraîches, un taureau, et tout ce qui est tenu pour favorable.

Word by Word

• आचम्य: having sipped (water)
• आचम्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier of main action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√cam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्ग: आ-; ‘having sipped/after sipping (water)’

• वह्नि-सलिलम्: water heated by fire
• वह्नि-सलिलम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/सम्बन्धः ‘fire’s water’ = water heated by fire

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gomaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• गौर-सर্ষपान्: yellow mustard seeds
• गौर-सर্ষपान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaura (प्रातिपदिक) + sarṣapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘gauraḥ sarṣapāḥ’ = yellow/white mustard seeds

• दूर्वा-प्रवालम्: dūrvā grass and sprouts
• दूर्वा-प्रवालम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūrvā (प्रातिपदिक) + pravāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (समाहार) ‘dūrvā ca pravālaṃ ca’

• वृषभम्: a bull
• वृषभम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• अन्यत्: other (things)
• अन्यत्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) ‘also/even’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon)

• मङ्गलम्: auspicious item/auspiciousness
• मङ्गलम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: preliminary to antyeṣṭi/related rites

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mangala-dravya-sangraha and shauca as prerequisites for samskara.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kanda as purifier of the mind (chitta-shuddhi) preparing for higher pursuit.

Application: Begin rites with ācamana and prepare standard auspicious items (agni-jala, gomaya, gaurasarshapa, dūrvā, pallava) with attention and cleanliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (griha/antyeshti-sthala)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Antyeshti context): ācamana, mangala-dravya usage in antyeshti and śrāddha preliminaries (adjacent verses in 2.4)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Cow (implied by gomaya)
• Bull (vṛṣabha)

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious items like dūrvā, mustard, and gomaya in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse lists traditional maṅgala-dravyas used after purification; they are employed to sanctify the rite and remove ritual impurities before proceeding with offerings connected to death-related ceremonies.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct preparatory purification and auspicious setup, which the Garuda Purana presents as supportive conditions for proper post-death rites that benefit the departed being (preta) through orderly ritual procedure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin any solemn family rite with cleanliness and intentional purification, and follow a consistent, tradition-aligned ritual checklist (under a competent priest/elder guidance) rather than performing ceremonies casually or haphazardly.