Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

अतो न रोदितव्यं हि क्रियाः कार्याः स्वशक्तितः / ततस्तेषूपविष्टेषु पुराणज्ञः सुकृत्स्वकः

Transliteration

ato na roditavyaṃ hi kriyāḥ kāryāḥ svaśaktitaḥ / tatasteṣūpaviṣṭeṣu purāṇajñaḥ sukṛtsvakaḥ

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട് കരയരുത്; സ്വന്തം ശേഷിയനുസരിച്ച് ക്രിയകൾ നിർവഹിക്കണം। തുടർന്ന് അവർ ഇരുന്നപ്പോൾ പുരാണജ്ഞൻ—സത്കർമ്മനിഷ്ഠനും സ്വധർമ്മസ്ഥനും—ഉപദേശം നൽകണം।

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (Conclusion marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु/निगमनवाचक अव्यय (therefore)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• रोदितव्यम्: (it) should be cried/wept
• रोदितव्यम्: Vidhi/Nishedha (Prohibition)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुद् (धातु) → रोदितव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तव्यतार्थक (gerundive/तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); भावे प्रयोग (impersonal obligation)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) कारण/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• क्रियाः: rites/acts
• क्रियाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कार्याः: to be done/required
• कार्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तव्यतार्थक (gerundive/यत्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural) (क्रियाः इति विशेषण)

• स्वशक्तितः: according to one’s ability
• स्वशक्तितः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्व + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (स्वशक्त्या इति अर्थे), तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक अव्यय (then)

• तेषु: when they/in them
• तेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual), सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• उपविष्टेषु: when (they) have sat down
• उपविष्टेषु: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सप्तमी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-विश् (धातु) → उपविष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) (सप्तमी-absolute)

• पुराणज्ञः: knower of the Purāṇas
• पुराणज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (पुराणं जानाति इति), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुकृत्स्वकः: a virtuous close one (trusted good person)
• सुकृत्स्वकः: Karta (Apposition/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकृत् + स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सुकृत् एव स्वकः/स्वजनः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, describing proper conduct for the bereaved and the role of a learned guide)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After completing immediate rites and sitting down for subsequent proceedings/discourse

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Grief should be restrained; perform prescribed rites according to one’s śakti (means/ability). Then receive dharma instruction from a learned, virtuous purāṇika.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga principle: do one’s duty without being overwhelmed; śāstra-guided living transforms sorrow into sattvic understanding.

Application: In bereavement, prioritize essential rites within financial/physical capacity; seek guidance from competent, ethical teachers rather than performative excess.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual seating area on purified ground (post-bath)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana passages recommending śāstra-śravaṇa and purāṇic discourse after rites (within Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections); Adjacent verse 2.4.80 on not weeping

Characters & Entities

• Purana-jna (learned guide)

FAQs

What is the importance of performing kriyā (funerary rites) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prioritizes kriyā over excessive mourning, teaching that the deceased is best helped through prescribed rites performed sincerely within one’s means.

How does this verse explain the right response to death in the family?

It redirects the bereaved from lamentation to dharmic action: sit together, proceed with the required observances, and receive guidance from a knowledgeable Purāṇa-expert.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Channel grief into meaningful duty: complete essential funeral/shraddha steps responsibly (without financial ruin), seek competent scriptural guidance, and maintain composure and ethical conduct.