Shloka 134

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

Devanagari script

एवं सर्पबलिं दत्त्वा सर्पदोषाद्विमुच्यते / पश्चात्पुत्तलकं कार्यं सर्वोषधिसमन्वितम्

Transliteration

evaṃ sarpabaliṃ dattvā sarpadoṣādvimucyate / paścātputtalakaṃ kāryaṃ sarvoṣadhisamanvitam

Translation

Demikianlah, setelah mempersembahkan sarpabali (korban suci kepada ular), seseorang dibebaskan daripada cela yang timbul kerana ular. Sesudah itu hendaklah disediakan puttalaka, lengkap dengan segala herba ubatan.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb: manner)

• सर्पबलिम्: snake-offering
• सर्पबलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प + बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• सर्पदोषात्: from the fault/affliction of snakes
• सर्पदोषात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• विमुच्यते: is freed; is released
• विमुच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (passive sense)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb of time)

• पुत्तलकम्: an effigy/doll (ritual figure)
• पुत्तलकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्तलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कार्यम्: to be made; should be done
• कार्यम्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय (predicative)

• सर्वोषधिसमन्वितम्: endowed with all herbs
• सर्वोषधिसमन्वितम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + ओषधि + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle from सम्-√अन्वि/√इ ‘endowed with’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After completing sarpabali; then proceed to puttalaka preparation as the next step.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific karmic/ritual countermeasures (sarpabali) remove sarpa-doṣa; subsequent puttalaka preparation indicates a structured remedial sequence.

Vedantic Theme: Adṛṣṭa (unseen karmic residue) is addressed through prescribed actions; order and completeness of rites matter for efficacy.

Application: Perform sarpabali to neutralize serpent-related affliction; then prepare the puttalaka with comprehensive medicinal herbs as instructed in the rite.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.135-136 (materials and construction details for the body-form/puttalaka); Garuda Purana 2.4.133 (gold serpent and cow dāna)

Characters & Entities

• Serpents (Nāgas)

FAQs

What is the importance of sarpabali in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing sarpabali removes serpent-related doṣas (harmful afflictions/faults), indicating it as a pacificatory rite within the ritual sequence.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or the funeral-rite sequence?

It presents a procedural order—first a serpent-oblation for removing obstacles, then preparation of a puttalaka with medicinal herbs—implying that protective and corrective rites support the broader preta-ritual framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow ritual actions in proper sequence and intent: first address perceived obstacles (doṣa-śānti), then proceed to the main rite with completeness and care, symbolized here by preparing the puttalaka with supporting substances.