Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

अनुशब्दं न कुर्वीत नावाहनमथोल्मुकम् / आसीमान्तं न कुर्वीत प्रदक्षिणविसर्जनम्

Transliteration

anuśabdaṃ na kurvīta nāvāhanamatholmukam / āsīmāntaṃ na kurvīta pradakṣiṇavisarjanam

Translation

ആവർത്തിച്ചുള്ള അനുശബ്ദം ചെയ്യരുത്, ആവാഹനം ചെയ്യരുത്, ഉൽമുകകർമം (അംഗാരക്രിയ) ചെയ്യരുത്. സീമാന്തവും ചെയ്യരുത്; പ്രദക്ഷിണ ചെയ്ത് വിസർജനം നടത്തണം.

Word by Word

• अनुशब्दम्: the ‘anu’ sound/word (after-sound)
• अनुशब्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• कुर्वीत: should do/make
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• आवाहनम्: invocation (calling)
• आवाहनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + वहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• अथ: then/and
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/and then)

• उल्मुकम्: firebrand/ember
• उल्मुकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उल्मुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• आसीमान्तम्: (the rite of) parting the hair (sīmānta)
• आसीमान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + सीमान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• कुर्वीत: should do
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• प्रदक्षिणविसर्जनम्: circumambulation and dismissal
• प्रदक्षिणविसर्जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिण + विसर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (two coordinated acts)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At the samāpti (conclusion) of preta-śrāddha.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preta-śrāddha requires a pared-down protocol: avoid anu-utterances, invocation, ember rite, and boundary-marking; conclude with pradakṣiṇā and visarjana.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline and appropriateness (aucitya) in action; letting-go (visarjana) as ritualized non-attachment.

Application: In preta-śrāddha, omit specified acts and end properly with circumambulation and formal dismissal, following the officiant’s guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.35.29–30 (continuing list of preta-śrāddha niṣedhas and mantra restrictions)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of pradakṣiṇā and visarjana in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse emphasizes that the rite should be properly concluded—circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā) followed by formal dismissal (visarjana)—rather than adding extra invocations or ancillary acts.

Does this verse permit repeated chanting or additional invocations during death rites?

No. It specifically advises against repeated ritual utterances (anuśabda) and against performing invocation (āvāhana) as an added act in this context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow the prescribed sequence of funerary/śrāddha procedures without improvising extra ritual steps; ensure a clear, respectful closure to the rite with the customary concluding actions.