Shloka 115

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

Devanagari script

तस्य सुद्धिकरं कर्म तद्भवेन्न तदन्यथा / नारायणबलिं सम्यक् तीर्थे सर्वं प्रक्पयेत्

Transliteration

tasya suddhikaraṃ karma tadbhavenna tadanyathā / nārāyaṇabaliṃ samyak tīrthe sarvaṃ prakpayet

Translation

അവനു ശുദ്ധി നൽകുന്ന കർമ്മം അതുതന്നെ; മറ്റൊന്നല്ല. അതിനാൽ തീർത്ഥത്തിൽ സമ്യകമായി നാരായണബലി നടത്തി, നിർദ്ദേശിച്ച എല്ലാ അർപ്പണങ്ങളും ശരിയായി സമർപ്പിക്കണം.

Word by Word

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

• शुद्धिकरम्: purification-causing
• शुद्धिकरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शुद्धेः करम् = causing purification), विशेषण (qualifies कर्म)

• कर्म: rite; act
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थ

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

• सम्यक्: properly; correctly
• सम्यक्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तीर्थे: at a sacred place
• तीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (object: all [procedures/materials])

• प्रक्पयेत्: should arrange/perform
• प्रक्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; पाठभेद/लिप्यन्तर-सम्भावना: 'प्रकल्पयेत्'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At a tīrtha; as the key purificatory step before further rites

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nārāyaṇa-bali, performed properly, is the definitive purifying rite; it should be executed at a tīrtha with all prescribed offerings.

Vedantic Theme: Sacred geography as a support for karma-kāṇḍa; purification as removal of obstacles (pratibandha) to dharmic progression.

Application: Choose an appropriate tīrtha (per family tradition), engage qualified priests, and complete all components (bali, saṅkalpa, offerings) without omission.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred ford/pilgrimage site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana tīrtha-mahātmyas and śrāddha-at-tīrtha recommendations (general internal parallel); 2.4.116 on performance by brāhmaṇas and prior tarpaṇa

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Tirtha
• Preta

FAQs

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

This verse states it is a decisive purificatory rite for the departed, effective when performed properly—especially as an offering dedicated to Nārāyaṇa for cleansing and appeasement.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By emphasizing purification through prescribed rites, it implies the departed (preta) benefits from correct ritual support, which aids peace and orderly transition in the post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform post-death rites with correctness and sincerity—preferably under knowledgeable guidance—focusing on dharmic intention and proper observance rather than improvisation.