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Shloka 35

Āyuḥ-kṣaya by Vikarma; Impermanence of the Body; Aśauca and Child Śrāddha Procedures; Dāna as Remedy

Devanagari script

कथं किं केन दातव्यं मृतान्ते को विधिः स्मृतः / गरुडोक्तमिति श्रुत्वा विष्णुर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्

Transliteration

kathaṃ kiṃ kena dātavyaṃ mṛtānte ko vidhiḥ smṛtaḥ / garuḍoktamiti śrutvā viṣṇurvākyamathābravīt

Translation

ഗരുഡൻ ഉച്ചരിച്ച വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ട് ശ്രീവിഷ്ണു അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു— “മരണാന്ത്യത്തിൽ ദാനം എങ്ങനെ, എന്ത്, ആരാൽ നൽകണം? ഏത് വിധിയാണ് സ്മൃതിയിൽ നിർദ്ദേശിച്ചത്?”

Word by Word
कथम्how
कथम्:
Sambandha (Interrogative/Relation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम् (अव्यय)
Formप्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)
किम्what
किम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)
केनby whom/with what
केन:
Karana (Instrument/Means)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)
दातव्यम्should be given
दातव्यम्:
Karma (Predicative obligation)
TypeVerb
Rootदा (धातु) + तव्य (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
Formतव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (to be given)
मृतान्तेat the end of death; at death-time
मृतान्ते:
Adhikarana (Location/Time)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mṛtasya antaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (locative singular)
कःwhich/what (one)
कः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (nominative singular)
विधिःrule; procedure
विधिः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootविधि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (nominative singular)
स्मृतःis stated/remembered
स्मृतः:
Karta (Predicate complement)
TypeVerb
Rootस्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
Formक्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (remembered/declared)
गरुडोक्तम्what was said by Garuḍa
गरुडोक्तम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootगरुड (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (garuḍasya uktam), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
इतिthus
इति:
Sambandha (Quotation marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formउद्धरण-समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
Kriya-viseshana (Prior action)
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having heard)
विष्णुःViṣṇu
विष्णुः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootविष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (nominative singular)
वाक्यम्speech; words
वाक्यम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootवाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (accusative singular)
अथthen
अथ:
Sambandha (Discourse connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ (अव्यय)
Formअनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)
अब्रवीत्said
अब्रवीत्:
Kriya (Main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
Speaker

Narrator (transition verse): Garuḍa asks; Lord Viṣṇu prepares to speak

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mṛtyu-kāla dāna and prescribed vidhi must be known and followed; dharma is clarified through śāstric dialogue.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as śāstra-pravaktā; right action (dharma) as purifier supporting higher aims.

Application: Seek qualified instruction on end-of-life rites and gifting; avoid improvisation in saṃskāra-related duties.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta-kalpa/ācāra sections on dāna at death and antyeṣṭi-vidhi (contextual continuation of 2.24)

Characters & Entities
G
Garuḍa
V
Viṣṇu

FAQs

This verse frames the core inquiry—what gifts should be given, how, and by whom—introducing Viṣṇu’s authoritative explanation of the prescribed procedure connected with death-time duties.

Indirectly: it signals that correct rites and giving at the time of death are consequential enough to be asked systematically, prompting Viṣṇu’s forthcoming teaching that supports the departed’s post-death journey.

Treat end-of-life planning and family duties seriously: learn the prescribed last-rite framework, ensure responsible performance by appropriate relatives/agents, and practice meaningful charity with right intent.

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