Shloka 44

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

पश्चात्पुत्तलकं कार्यं सर्वौषधिसमन्वितम् / पलाशस्य च वृन्तानां विभागं शृणु काश्यप

Transliteration

paścātputtalakaṃ kāryaṃ sarvauṣadhisamanvitam / palāśasya ca vṛntānāṃ vibhāgaṃ śṛṇu kāśyapa

Translation

Selepas itu, hendaklah disediakan puttalaka, iaitu arca upacara, yang dilengkapi dengan segala herba ubatan yang diperlukan. Kini, wahai Kāśyapa, dengarlah susunan dan pembahagian yang tepat bagi tangkai palāśa.

Word by Word

• paścāt: Afterwards
• paścāt: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time

• puttalakam: Effigy/Doll
• puttalakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puttalaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kāryam: Should be made/done
• kāryam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (Nyat Pratyaya), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• sarvauṣadhisamanvitam: Endowed with all medicinal herbs
• sarvauṣadhisamanvitam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvauṣadhisamanvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• palāśasya: Of the Palasha tree
• palāśasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: palāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ca: And
• ca: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vṛntānām: Of the stalks
• vṛntānām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛnta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• vibhāgam: Division/Distribution
• vibhāgam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śṛṇu: Listen
• śṛṇu: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative), Madhyama Purusha (2nd), Singular

• kāśyapa: O Kashyapa (Garuda)
• kāśyapa: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśyapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, addressing him as Kāśyapa)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-cremation/antyeṣṭi-adjacent sequence where substitute-body and materials are prepared before further rites.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual substitution and completeness: constructing a puttalaka with all medicinal herbs; precise arrangement of palāśa stalk portions.

Vedantic Theme: Symbolic body (liṅga-śarīra remembrance) and ritual order as a means to stabilize mind and honor the departed through dharmic procedure.

Application: In memorial rites, follow a coherent, well-attested procedure; treat symbolic acts with care, cleanliness, and intentionality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.40 (puttalaka/effigy and asthi-related procedures in sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Kashyapa
• Puttalaka
• Aushadhi
• Palasha

FAQs

What is the importance of the puttalaka in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the puttalaka as a ritually constructed substitute form, prepared with prescribed herbs and materials, enabling the funeral/after-death procedures to be performed correctly according to dharma.

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

By prescribing an effigy and specific ritual materials, the text emphasizes that correct post-death rites support the preta-phase transitions and the orderly continuation of the after-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow tradition-specific guidance from qualified priests for antyeṣṭi/śrāddha, especially in exceptional cases (missing body, incomplete rites), and treat ritual details as part of disciplined, compassionate dharma rather than mere symbolism.