Shloka 140

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

Devanagari script

नारिकेलं शिरः स्थानें तुम्बं दद्याच्च तालुके / पञ्चरत्नं मुखे दद्याज्जिह्वायां कदलीफलम्

Transliteration

nārikelaṃ śiraḥ sthāneṃ tumbaṃ dadyācca tāluke / pañcaratnaṃ mukhe dadyājjihvāyāṃ kadalīphalam

Translation

Hendaklah diletakkan sebiji kelapa pada tempat kepala, dan diletakkan labu (tumba) pada lelangit. Hendaklah diletakkan lima permata di dalam mulut, dan sebiji pisang di atas lidah.

Word by Word

• nārikelam: coconut
• nārikelam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārikela (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• śiraḥ-sthāne: in the place of the head
• śiraḥ-sthāne: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śiraḥ = शिरसः)

• tumbam: gourd (tumba)
• tumbam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tumba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• dadyāt: should give/place
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction: and)

• tāluke: in the palate
• tāluke: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāluka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• pañcaratnam: five gems (a set of five jewels)
• pañcaratnam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (five gems)

• mukhe: in the mouth
• mukhe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• dadyāt: should give/place
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• jihvāyām: on/in the tongue
• jihvāyām: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• kadalī-phalam: banana fruit
• kadalī-phalam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kadalī (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kadalī = कदल्याः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Antyeṣṭi/pretakriyā phase focusing on head/mouth correspondences.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pratīka-upacāra: using pure, auspicious substitutes to honor and ‘complete’ the departed’s subtle embodiment.

Vedantic Theme: Outer offerings as supports (upāya) for inner transition; purity (śauca) and intention (bhāva) in rites.

Application: Use the prescribed items—coconut, gourd, pañcaratna, banana—in the indicated positions during the rite.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.137; Garuda Purana 2.4.138; Garuda Purana 2.4.139; Garuda Purana 2.4.141

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of placing items like coconut, gourd, and pañcaratna in Garuda Purana death rites?

This verse prescribes specific placements of ritual items on the body as part of antyeṣṭi/preta-upacāra, indicating a codified method of honoring the departed and completing prescribed funeral observances.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda, such instructions form the ritual framework believed to support the departed’s transition into the preta state and onward journey, emphasizing correct observance of rites alongside broader teachings on after-death passage.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

It highlights the value of performing last rites carefully and respectfully according to one’s tradition and guidance of qualified priests/elders, treating funeral observances as a disciplined dharmic duty.