Shloka 74

Netra–Nāsa–Mukha Cikitsā, Vraṇa/Bhasma Prayoga, Jvara–Vāta Remedies, and Protective/Uccāṭana Procedures

Devanagari script

संगृह्य विद्वान्काकस्य निलयं प्रदहेच्च तत् / चिताग्नौ भस्म तच्छत्रोर्दत्तं शिरसि शङ्कर

Transliteration

saṃgṛhya vidvānkākasya nilayaṃ pradahecca tat / citāgnau bhasma tacchatrordattaṃ śirasi śaṅkara

Translation

അത് ശേഖരിച്ച വിദ്യാവാൻ കാക്കയുടെ നിവാസം (കൂട്) ദഹിപ്പിക്കണം; പിന്നെ ചിതാഗ്നിയിലെ ഭസ്മം ശത്രുവിന്റെ ശിരസ്സിൽ വെക്കണം—എന്നു ശങ്കരൻ അരുളിച്ചെയ്യുന്നു.

Word by Word

• संगृह्य: having collected
• संगृह्य: Kriya (Gerundial/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having collected)

• विद्वान्: a learned person
• विद्वान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञा-धातोः क्तवत्-प्रायः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (the learned one)

• काकस्य: of a crow
• काकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• निलयम्: nest/abode
• निलयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• प्रदहेत्: should burn
• प्रदहेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: that (thing)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चिताग्नौ: in the funeral-pyre fire
• चिताग्नौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चितायाः अग्नौ)

• भस्म: ashes
• भस्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Correlative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शत्रोः: of the enemy
• शत्रोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• दत्तम्: given/placed
• दत्तम्: Kriya (Predicate participle/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि (given/placed)

• शिरसि: on the head
• शिरसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• शङ्कर: O Śaṅkara
• शङ्कर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda, citing Śaṅkara/Śiva as authority)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual acts using liminal substances are believed to produce immediate worldly effects (abhicāra).

Vedantic Theme: Tāmasika karma binds and agitates the mind; power sought through harm reinforces saṃsāric entanglement.

Application: If read descriptively: recognize the text’s catalog of rites; ethically, avoid harmful coercive practices and redirect ritual energy to protective/beneficent ends.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: cremation-ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.177 (uccāṭana/vaśya/abhicāra procedures clustered nearby)

Characters & Entities

• Shankara (Shiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of cremation ash (citā-bhasma) in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse it functions as a ritually potent substance used for protection/warding off harm, presented as an instruction attributed to Śaṅkara.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on death rites?

It connects funeral-pyre elements (citāgni, bhasma) with apotropaic practice, reflecting how the Preta Kanda links post-death ritual materials with protection and pacification measures.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a reminder that rites should be guided by qualified tradition and ethical intent; in modern practice, prioritize legitimate śrāddha/antyeṣṭi guidance and avoid harmful or superstitious misuse.