Shloka 125

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

Devanagari script

शङ्खे खड्गे ऽथ वा ताम्रे तर्पणञ्च पृथक्पृथक् / ध्यानधारणसंयुक्तो जानुभ्यामवनीं गतः

Transliteration

śaṅkhe khaḍge 'tha vā tāmre tarpaṇañca pṛthakpṛthak / dhyānadhāraṇasaṃyukto jānubhyāmavanīṃ gataḥ

Translation

ശംഖത്തിൽ, ഖഡ്ഗത്തിൽ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ താമ്രപാത്രത്തിൽ വിധിപ്രകാരം തർപ്പണം വേർവേറായി ചെയ്യണം. ധ്യാനവും ധാരണയും ചേർത്ത്, ഇരുകാൽമുട്ടുകളാൽ ഭൂമിയിൽ നമിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• शङ्खे: in a conch
• शङ्खे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• खड्गे: in a sword (vessel/implement)
• खड्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अथ: then / or else
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: sequence/alternative)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• ताम्रे: in copper (vessel)
• ताम्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तर्पणम्: libation/satiating offering (tarpaṇa)
• तर्पणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप् (धातु) → तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाव-नाम (action noun)

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

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• पृथक्: each separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति (emphasis)

• ध्यानधारणसंयुक्तः: endowed with meditation and concentration
• ध्यानधारणसंयुक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान + धारण + संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय ‘संयुक्त’; तत्पुरुषः (ध्यानधारणाभ्यां संयुक्तः)

• जानुभ्याम्: with (both) knees
• जानुभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), द्विवचन

• अवनीम्: the ground
• अवनीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गतः: having gone (down)
• गतः: Kriya (Action/state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण/विधेय-रूपेण (has gone)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During tarpaṇa segment (after ācamana/saṅkalpa as per kalpa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tarpaṇa must be offered separately as prescribed, using sanctioned implements, with dhyāna and dhāraṇā and a posture of humility (kneeling).

Vedantic Theme: Integration of outer rite and inner discipline: attention (ekāgratā) sanctifies karma; humility reduces ahaṅkāra in sacred action.

Application: Perform tarpaṇa in the correct vessel per tradition; offer each libation distinctly; maintain meditative focus; adopt respectful posture (kneeling) to steady mind and body.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4: tarpaṇa procedures and implements

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of tarpaṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames tarpaṇa as a precise, rule-based offering—done separately and with mental discipline—indicating it is not merely symbolic but a structured rite meant to properly satisfy the Pitṛs (ancestors).

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, correct post-death rites (like tarpaṇa) are taught as supports for the departed and as duties of the living; the emphasis on careful procedure suggests these acts are believed to have real post-mortem consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with attentiveness and clarity—do offerings in an orderly way and cultivate a focused, respectful mind rather than treating rituals as hurried formalities.