Shloka 86

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

Devanagari script

ते ऽयि संश्रुत्य गच्छेयुर्गृहं बालपुरः सराः / विदश्य र्निबपत्राणि नियता द्वारि वेश्मनः

Transliteration

te 'yi saṃśrutya gaccheyurgṛhaṃ bālapuraḥ sarāḥ / vidaśya rnibapatrāṇi niyatā dvāri veśmanaḥ

Translation

Услышав тот зов, они отправились бы в дом — эти слуги с детской простотой. Положив записанные листья (свитки-реестры), они остаются стоять на страже у дверей жилища.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अयि: O! / hey!
• अयि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अयि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बोधनसूचक (vocative particle/interjection)

• संश्रुत्य: having heard
• संश्रुत्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (Gerund/त्वान्त), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• गच्छेयुः: should go
• गच्छेयुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• गृहम्: to the house
• गृहम्: Gati-karma (Goal/Object of motion/गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बाल-पुरः: with children in front / preceded by children
• बाल-पुरः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बाल-पुरस् (प्रातिपदिक; बाल + पुरस्)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्यय (adverb)

• सराः: lakes / ponds
• सराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विदश्य: having cut/opened (reading uncertain)
• विदश्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विदश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (Gerund/त्वान्त); पाठभेदः/दोषसम्भावना (विदश्य/विदार्य/विधाय)

• निब-पत्राणि: nib-leaves (reading uncertain)
• निब-पत्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निब-पत्र (प्रातिपदिक; निब + पत्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः

• नियताः: restrained / fixed
• नियताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (ते इति)

• द्वारि: at the door
• द्वारि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वेश्मनः: of the house
• वेश्मनः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Attentive hearing and disciplined execution of duty; orderly conduct around rites/household proceedings implied by attendants with written records stationed at the door.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga attitude in small actions: niyama, śraddhā in procedure, and steadiness at thresholds of change.

Application: Maintain clear documentation and calm coordination during family rites or critical events; assign roles, keep records, and avoid chaos at sensitive moments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: threshold/doorway

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: procedural descriptions around death rites and attendants/messengers in narrative frames (general motif)

Characters & Entities

• Messengers/attendants (puraḥsaraḥ)

FAQs

What is the importance of keeping 'records' (patras) in the Garuda Purana context?

This verse hints at an administrative, karmic accounting: attendants arrive with written records, symbolizing that actions are noted and results follow with precision.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It portrays the immediate post-death setting around the home: appointed attendants come to the doorway, indicating the transition from household life to the next-stage journey governed by karmic order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with accountability—treat actions as consequential and “recorded,” and perform death-related rites mindfully, especially those traditionally done at or near the home’s threshold.