Shloka 182

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

Devanagari script

ततो दाहः प्रकर्तव्यस्तैश्च पुत्तलकैः सह / सूतकान्ते तदा पुत्त्रैः कार्यं शान्तिकपौष्टिकम्

Transliteration

tato dāhaḥ prakartavyastaiśca puttalakaiḥ saha / sūtakānte tadā puttraiḥ kāryaṃ śāntikapauṣṭikam

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ആ പുത്തലകങ്ങളോടുകൂടി ദാഹസംസ്കാരം നടത്തേണ്ടതാണ്. സൂതകകാലം അവസാനിച്ചാൽ പുത്രന്മാർ ശാന്തിയും പുഷ്ടിയും നൽകുന്ന ശാന്തിക-പൗഷ്ടിക കർമ്മങ്ങൾ വിധിപൂർവ്വം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb; अर्थे: अनन्तरम् (thereafter)

• dāhaḥ: cremation/burning
• dāhaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• prakartavyaḥ: to be done; should be performed
• prakartavyaḥ: Vidhi (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra√kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• taiḥ: by them
• taiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

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

• puttalakaiḥ: with the effigies/dolls (puttalakas)
• puttalakaiḥ: Sahakari (Associate/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puttalaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahartha (Accompaniment/सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सह-योगे postposition)

• sūtakānte: at the end of the impurity period (sūtaka)
• sūtakānte: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūtaka-anta (प्रातिपदिक: sūtaka + anta)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: सूतकस्य अन्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक adverb)

• puttraiḥ: by the sons
• puttraiḥ: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puttra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• kāryam: a rite to be performed
• kāryam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + ya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive used substantively), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-नाम (that which is to be done)

• śāntikapauṣṭikam: propitiatory and prosperity-giving
• śāntikapauṣṭikam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāntika + pauṣṭika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (इतरेतर: शान्तिकं च पौष्टिकं च); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; kāryam इति विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After cremation; śānti-pauṣṭika performed after sūtaka ends

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Antyeṣṭi and post-impurity rites are obligatory duties that re-establish ṛta (ritual order) for the living and support the departed’s transition.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier (citta-śuddhi) and maintainer of dharmic order; recognition of the body’s impermanence and the continuity of duty.

Application: Perform cremation properly (including prescribed substitutes like puttalaka when required), observe sūtaka, then complete śānti and pauṣṭika rites through the sons to normalize household worship and social participation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual site / domestic space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: antyeṣṭi-vidhi and sūtaka-śuddhi sections (contextual continuity around 2.4); Garuda Purana: śrāddha/tilodaka procedures following cremation (adjacent passages)

Characters & Entities

• Puttralaka
• Putra (sons)
• Sutaka

FAQs

What is the importance of śāntika and pauṣṭika rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places śāntika (pacificatory) and pauṣṭika (welfare/prosperity) rites after the sūtaka period, indicating they are meant to restore ritual harmony and strengthen auspiciousness for the family and the departed’s transition.

How does this verse explain the sequence of Garuda Purana funeral rites?

It gives a clear order: first perform dāha (cremation), including prescribed substitutes/effigies (puttalakas) where applicable; then, after sūtaka ends, the sons perform follow-up śānti and welfare rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow a disciplined sequence in bereavement: complete the cremation rites properly, observe the sūtaka period as per tradition, and then perform the appropriate concluding śānti rites to close mourning with responsibility and composure.