Shloka 16
Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy
सर्वौषध्यक्षतैर्मिश्रैर्विष्णुमुद्दिश्य तर्पयेत् / कार्यं पुरुषसूक्तेन मन्त्रैर्वा वैष्णवैरपि
sarvauṣadhyakṣatairmiśrairviṣṇumuddiśya tarpayet / kāryaṃ puruṣasūktena mantrairvā vaiṣṇavairapi
സകല ഔഷധികളോടും അക്ഷതം കലർത്തി വിഷ്ണുവിനെ ഉദ്ദേശിച്ച് തർപ്പണം ചെയ്യണം; ഇത് പുരുഷസൂക്തത്താലോ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ മറ്റ് വൈഷ്ണവ മന്ത്രങ്ങളാലോ നടത്തേണ്ടതാണ്।
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Ritual Type: Ekoddishta
Beneficiary: Pitr
Concept: Consecrate tarpaṇa to Viṣṇu using akṣata mixed with healing herbs; employ Puruṣa-sūkta or Vaiṣṇava mantras—linking cosmic Puruṣa with Viṣṇu devotion.
Vedantic Theme: Puruṣa as cosmic ground (Brahman/Īśvara) and Viṣṇu as the accessible form for devotion; ritual offerings become inner surrender when dedicated to the Supreme.
Application: Prepare akṣata with suitable auspicious herbs, offer tarpaṇa with Puruṣa-sūkta (if qualified) or Vaiṣṇava mantras; keep intention as Viṣṇu-arpana for the departed’s benefit.
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: prescriptions for tarpaṇa materials; Vaiṣṇava mantra options; integration of Vedic hymns in śrāddha context
FAQs
This verse teaches that offerings meant to satisfy and support the rite should be intentionally offered with Viṣṇu as the focus, aligning post-death ritual acts with Vaiṣṇava devotion and sanctifying the procedure through divine dedication.
In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, correct rites support the departed and restore order after death; here, the text emphasizes that tarpaṇa done with proper materials and Viṣṇu-centered mantras is part of the prescribed framework that aids the transition and religious duty of the family.
When performing śrāddha or tarpaṇa, keep the intention clear (Viṣṇu as the dedicatee), use pure offerings (akṣata and sanctifying ingredients), and recite Puruṣa-sūkta or authentic Vaiṣṇava mantras with steadiness and reverence.