Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

(३५।४५) ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिनामेवं व्यवहारः खगेश्वर / विलुप्य ज्ञातिधर्मञ्च प्रेतपापेन लिप्यते

Transliteration

(35.45) jñātisambandhināmevaṃ vyavahāraḥ khageśvara / vilupya jñātidharmañca pretapāpena lipyate

Translation

ഹേ ഖഗേശ്വര ഗരുഡാ! ബന്ധുക്കളിൽ ഇങ്ങനെ തന്നെയാണ് പെരുമാറ്റം; ജ്ഞാതിധർമ്മം നശിപ്പിച്ചാൽ മനുഷ്യൻ പ്രേതപാപത്തിൽ ലിപ്തനാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिनाम्: of the relatives/kinsmen
• ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्बन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ज्ञातीनां सम्बन्धिनः)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति/प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• व्यवहारः: conduct, practice
• व्यवहारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

• विलुप्य: having destroyed/omitted
• विलुप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + लुप् (धातु) → विलुप्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• ज्ञातिधर्मम्: the duty toward kinsmen
• ज्ञातिधर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ज्ञातीनां धर्मः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रेतपापेन: by/through the sin connected with the preta
• प्रेतपापेन: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रेतस्य पापम्)

• लिप्यते: is tainted/smeared
• लिप्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: When kin-duties connected to death/śrāddha are due

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglecting duties toward relatives (jñāti-dharma), especially in death-rites context, results in being tainted by preta-related sin (preta-pāpa).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha through omission (akaraṇa-doṣa): failure to perform obligatory rites binds and stains the doer; dharma sustains social and spiritual order.

Application: Do not abandon funeral/śrāddha responsibilities; coordinate family duties, ensure rites are completed, and support mourners—omission is treated as a serious fault.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana teachings on consequences of neglecting antyeṣṭi/śrāddha and duties to pitṛs; Contextual link to 2.35.42-43 outlining prohibitions and purifications

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of jñāti-dharma (duties to relatives) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that when family obligations are neglected—especially around death-related responsibilities—one’s conduct degenerates and one incurs a specific karmic stain described as preta-related sin.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s condition after death (preta-state)?

By linking neglect of kin-dharma to “preta-pāpa,” the text implies that failures in post-death responsibilities (care, rites, and proper conduct) create karmic burdens associated with the unsettled post-death phase.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain integrity in family responsibilities, support relatives in times of death, and follow appropriate funeral/shraddha observances according to one’s tradition to avoid social and ethical breakdown and karmic harm.