Shloka 113

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

Devanagari script

अतस्तस्य सुतैः पौत्त्रैः सपिण्डैः शुभमिच्छुभिः / नारायणबलिः कार्यो लोकगर्हाभिया खग

Transliteration

atastasya sutaiḥ pauttraiḥ sapiṇḍaiḥ śubhamicchubhiḥ / nārāyaṇabaliḥ kāryo lokagarhābhiyā khaga

Translation

അതിനാൽ അവന്റെ പുത്രന്മാരും പൗത്രന്മാരും മറ്റു സപിണ്ഡ ബന്ധുക്കളും, അവന്റെ ക്ഷേമം ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവർ, ലോകനിന്ദയുടെ ഭയത്താൽ—ഹേ ഖഗ (ഗരുഡാ)!—നാരായണബലി നിർവഹിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (Inference/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात्-अर्थ (therefore)

• तस्य: of him; of that person
• तस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• सुतैः: by the sons
• सुतैः: Karana (Instrument/Agent-group/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण (instrumental)

• पौत्त्रैः: by the grandsons
• पौत्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौत्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण

• सपिण्डैः: by the sapinda relatives (same ancestral line)
• सपिण्डैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थ) + पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सह-तत्पुरुष (सह पिण्डैः = with sapinda relatives)

• शुभम्: good; auspicious result
• शुभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (object of इच्छु)

• इच्छुभिः: desiring
• इच्छुभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु) + उ (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: उ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (इच्छु = desiring), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies sutaiḥ etc.)

• नारायणबलिः: the Nārāyaṇa-offering (Nārāyaṇa-bali rite)
• नारायणबलिः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नारायणस्य बलिः)

• कार्यः: should be performed
• कार्यः: Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (कार्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be done)

• लोकगर्हाभिया: from fear of public censure
• लोकगर्हाभिया: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्हा (प्रातिपदिक) + भि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य गर्हा) + तृतीया (भिया = by fear)

• खग: O bird (Garuda)
• खग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; संबोधन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed as a remedial rite when welfare of the departed is sought and to avert blame

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sapinda relatives bear responsibility to perform Nārāyaṇa-bali for the deceased’s benefit; neglect invites लोकगर्हा (public reproach) and dharmic fault.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as relational duty (ṛṇa) within family lineage; bhakti-inflected ritual centered on Nārāyaṇa as purifier and protector.

Application: If post-death rites are obstructed/uncertain, organize Nārāyaṇa-bali through qualified priests with family participation; treat it as both compassion and duty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections on sapinda obligations and remedial śrāddhas; Verses 2.4.114–116 on śauca and eligibility for ūrdhva-dehika after Nārāyaṇa-bali

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Garuda
• Sapindas

FAQs

What is the importance of Nārāyaṇa-bali in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Nārāyaṇa-bali as a required post-death rite to be undertaken by sons, grandsons, and sapinda relatives for the deceased’s welfare and auspicious outcome.

How does this verse explain the family’s duty after death?

It assigns responsibility to the closest heirs and sapindas to perform the prescribed offering, indicating that proper ritual support from kin is part of dharma and benefits the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Ensure timely, tradition-appropriate last rites and memorial offerings through qualified guidance, with family cooperation—treating ritual duty and social accountability as part of ethical responsibility.