Shloka 27

The Explanation of the Post-funeral Rites (Aurdhvadehika) and Related Matters

Devanagari script

भाजनोपानहौ च्छत्रं हेममुद्राच वाससी / दक्षिणा दीयते विप्र सर्वपातकमोचनी

Transliteration

bhājanopānahau cchatraṃ hemamudrāca vāsasī / dakṣiṇā dīyate vipra sarvapātakamocanī

Translation

Wahai brāhmaṇa, apabila diberikan dakṣiṇā berupa bejana, alas kaki, payung, syiling atau meterai emas, serta pakaian, maka ia menjadi jalan pelepasan daripada segala dosa.

Word by Word

• भाजन: a vessel
• भाजन: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• उपानहौ: a pair of footwear
• उपानहौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपानह् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), द्विवचन

• छत्रम्: umbrella
• छत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• हेम: gold
• हेम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• मुद्रा: coin/seal (stamp)
• मुद्रा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

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

• वाससी: two garments
• वाससी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), द्विवचन

• दक्षिणा: fee/gift (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• दीयते: is given
• दीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• विप्र: O Brahmin
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case/vocative), एकवचन

• सर्वपातकमोचनी: removing all sins
• सर्वपातकमोचनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पातक + मोचनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna as expiatory karma that removes pāpa when given with proper items and recipient.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa śuddhi leading to antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (fitness for higher knowledge/bhakti).

Application: Give dakṣiṇā in prescribed form (vessel, footwear, umbrella, gold coin/seal, garments) to a qualified brāhmaṇa with sincerity and right intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections on dakṣiṇā and prāyaścitta (contextual continuity within 2.35)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana (Vipra)

FAQs

What is the importance of dakṣiṇā (ritual fee) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that properly giving dakṣiṇā—specified as practical items plus gold and clothing—functions as a prāyaścitta (expiation) that helps remove sins (pātaka).

How does this verse relate to death rituals described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, prescribed gifts (dāna/dakṣiṇā) support post-death rites and are taught as spiritually corrective acts that lessen negative karmic burden for the departed and the family performing the rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Give ethically earned donations with reverence—supporting genuine religious service and basic needs (clothing, footwear, essentials)—and treat giving as self-purification paired with truthful living and restraint.