Shloka 183

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

Devanagari script

पञ्चकेषु मृतो यो ऽसौ न सतिं लभते नरः / तिलान् गाञ्च सुवर्णञ्च तमुद्दिश्य घृतं ददेत्

Transliteration

pañcakeṣu mṛto yo 'sau na satiṃ labhate naraḥ / tilān gāñca suvarṇañca tamuddiśya ghṛtaṃ dadet

Translation

Sesiapa yang mati dalam pañcaka, iaitu lima masa yang tidak mujur, tidak memperoleh keadaan yang baik sesudahnya. Oleh itu, bagi pihaknya hendaklah didermakan ghṛta (minyak sapi suci), bersama biji bijan (tila), seekor lembu, dan emas.

Word by Word

• pañcakeṣu: in the five (days/periods)
• pañcakeṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; ‘पञ्चक’ = five-day period/series

• mṛtaḥ: dead
• mṛtaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛta (प्रातिपदिक; √mṛ धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नरः इति विशेषण

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• asau: that (person)
• asau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थ (demonstrative)

• na: not
• na: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध particle)

• satim: a good/auspicious state
• satim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘सति’ = good state/auspicious condition (contextual)

• labhate: obtains
• labhate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tilān: sesame seeds
• tilān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• gāḥ: cows
• gāḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय-bodhaka)

• suvarṇam: gold
• suvarṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय-bodhaka)

• tam: for him
• tam: Sampradana (Beneficiary/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• uddiśya: dedicating (to him)
• uddiśya: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ud√diś (धातु) + ya (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव-रूप (absolutive/gerund), ‘उद्दिश्य’ = having intended/dedicated (to)

• ghṛtam: ghee
• ghṛtam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dadet: should give
• dadet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After death occurring in pañcaka; as an immediate remedial adjunct

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adverse conditions at death can be mitigated through compensatory merit (dāna) performed by survivors, redirecting karmic outcomes.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala is modifiable in its experiential unfolding through prescribed expiatory/merit-generating acts; emphasis on dharmic agency amid fate.

Application: If death occurs in pañcaka, perform targeted donations—ghee, sesame, cow, and gold—dedicated to the deceased to counter inauspicious effects.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: temporal-ritual context (pañcaka period)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: pañcaka-doṣa remedies and dāna prescriptions in nearby śrāddha/antyeṣṭi context; Garuda Purana: tiladāna and ghṛta-dāna merits in śrāddha-related passages

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of pañcaka-related remedies in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that death in the pañcaka is considered spiritually unfavorable, so specific dānas (ghee, sesame, cow, gold) are prescribed as a remedial offering dedicated to the departed.

How does this verse explain support for the soul after death?

It links the deceased person’s post-death condition to ritual charity performed in their name, implying that dedicated offerings can improve the preta’s onward course.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If a family faces an inauspicious-death concern, they can perform charity—especially food/fat (ghee), sesame, and other prescribed gifts—dedicated to the departed, along with appropriate śrāddha under guidance.