Shloka 24

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

अस्पृश्यं जायते तूर्णं दुर्गन्धं सर्वनिन्दितम् / त्रिधावस्था हि देहस्य कृमिविड्मस्मसंज्ञिता

Transliteration

aspṛśyaṃ jāyate tūrṇaṃ durgandhaṃ sarvaninditam / tridhāvasthā hi dehasya kṛmiviḍmasmasaṃjñitā

Translation

ਸਰੀਰ ਛੇਤੀ ਹੀ ਅਸਪਰਸ਼ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ—ਬਦਬੂਦਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਸਭ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਨਿੰਦਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ। ਦੇਹ ਦੀਆਂ ਤਿੰਨ ਅਵਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਕਹੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ ਹਨ—ਕੀੜੇ-ਅਵਸਥਾ, ਵਿਸ਼ਠਾ-ਅਵਸਥਾ ਅਤੇ ਭਸਮ-ਅਵਸਥਾ।

Word by Word

• aspṛśyam: untouchable
• aspṛśyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a (नञ्-प्रत्यय) + spṛśya (कृदन्त; √spṛś धातु, स्पर्शे, यत्/ण्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/निषेध (untouchable)

• jāyate: becomes; is born
• jāyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु; जने/उत्पत्तौ)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• tūrṇam: quickly
• tūrṇam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tūrṇa (अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• dur-gandham: foul-smelling
• dur-gandham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (durgandha = bad-smelling)

• sarva-ninditam: reviled by all
• sarva-ninditam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + nindita (कृदन्त; √nind धातु, निन्दायाम्, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (sarvaiḥ ninditam)

• tri-dhā: in threefold manner
• tri-dhā: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + dhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्यावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (in three ways)

• avasthā: state; condition
• avasthā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avasthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• hi: indeed; for
• hi: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चय (particle: indeed/for)

• dehasya: of the body
• dehasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• kṛmi-viṭ-masma-saṃjñitā: called ‘worm, excrement, and ashes’ (i.e., having these three designations)
• kṛmi-viṭ-masma-saṃjñitā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛmi (प्रातिपदिक) + viṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + masma (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñita (कृदन्त; √jñā धातु, अवबोधने, सम्-उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (kṛmi+viṭ+masma) ततः तत्पुरुषः ‘...-saṃjñitā’ (named as ...)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The body inevitably becomes impure and passes through degrading states—worm-ridden, excremental, and ash—undermining bodily pride.

Vedantic Theme: Aśubha-bhāvanā and anityatā: contemplation of the body’s impurity to loosen attachment and support discrimination (viveka).

Application: Use mortality contemplation to reduce vanity and compulsive consumption; prioritize character, service, and spiritual practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/cremation context (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: corpse impurity and decay descriptions; motivations for rites (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of describing the body's three states in the Garuda Purana?

It cultivates detachment (vairagya) by showing how swiftly the body becomes impure and perishable, redirecting attention to dharma and the soul’s journey rather than bodily identity.

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

By emphasizing the body’s rapid decay and cremation into ash, it clarifies that the departed proceeds with a subtle existence while the gross body is left behind and transformed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice ethical living and remembrance of impermanence: reduce attachment to appearance and possessions, and prioritize dharma, compassion, and timely performance of funeral duties when required.