Shloka 117

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

Devanagari script

सर्वौषध्यक्षतैर्मिश्रैर्विष्णुमुद्दिश्य तर्पयेत् / कार्यं पुरुषसूक्तेन मन्त्रैर्वा वैष्णवैरपि

Transliteration

sarvauṣadhyakṣatairmiśrairviṣṇumuddiśya tarpayet / kāryaṃ puruṣasūktena mantrairvā vaiṣṇavairapi

Translation

ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਔਸ਼ਧੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਮਿਲੇ ਅਖ਼ਤ (ਅਕਸ਼ਤ) ਲੈ ਕੇ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਵਿਸ਼ਣੂ ਨੂੰ ਉਦੇਸ਼ ਕਰਕੇ ਤਰਪਣ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਕਰਮ ਪੁਰੁਸ਼ਸੂਕਤ ਨਾਲ, ਜਾਂ ਹੋਰ ਵੈਸ਼ਣਵ ਮੰਤ੍ਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਵੀ ਵਿਧੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇ।

Word by Word

• सर्वौषधि-अक्षतैः: with all herbs and (unbroken) rice-grains
• सर्वौषधि-अक्षतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + औषधि (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—(सर्वौषधि + अक्षत) इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः, तदन्त-प्रत्ययेन तृतीया बहुवचन

• मिश्रैः: mixed
• मिश्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (सर्वौषध्यक्षतैः इत्यस्य)

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• उद्दिश्य: having addressed (to)
• उद्दिश्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया—‘उद्दिश्य’ = उद्दिश्य (having addressed/aimed at)

• तर्पयेत्: should offer satisfaction/oblation (tarpana)
• तर्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कार्यम्: (it) should be done
• कार्यम्: Karya (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृ धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधानार्थे—‘to be done/should be performed’ (predicate nominal)

• पुरुषसूक्तेन: with the Puruṣa-sūkta
• पुरुषसूक्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + सूक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘पुरुषस्य सूक्तम्’

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle of alternative)

• वैष्णवैः: Vishnu-related
• वैष्णवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (मन्त्रैः इत्यस्य)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tarpana becomes efficacious when explicitly dedicated to Vishnu and supported by authoritative mantra (Puruṣa-sūkta or Vaiṣṇava mantras).

Vedantic Theme: Purusha-Narayana identification; the cosmic Person as the support of rites and their fruit.

Application: During tarpana, explicitly sankalpa ‘to Vishnu’, use akṣata mixed with auspicious/medicinal herbs, and recite Puruṣa-sūkta or established Vaiṣṇava mantras with steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (shraddha/tarpana place)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.118-121 (south-facing remembrance, Vishnu-dhyana, shraddha sequence, offerings)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Purusha (as in Purusha-sukta)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-tarpana in the Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse prescribes that tarpana be explicitly addressed to Viṣṇu, indicating that post-death rites are to be grounded in Viṣṇu-centered remembrance and mantra, treating the offering as a sacred act of pacification and sanctification.

Why does the verse mention akshata mixed with medicinal herbs (sarvaushadhi)?

Akṣata signifies purity and wholeness, while sarvauṣadhi implies auspicious, life-supporting sanctity; together they make the tarpana offering ritually fit when directed to Viṣṇu.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing ancestral or post-death rites, keep the offering materials pure (akṣata) and the intention devotional (addressed to Viṣṇu), reciting Puruṣa-sūkta or other Vaiṣṇava mantras with steadiness and reverence.