Shloka 33

Varṇāśrama-ācāra, Aśauca (Sūtaka) Regulations, and Prāyaścitta with Funeral-Rite Notes

Devanagari script

कृष्णाजिने समास्तीर्य षट् शतानि पलाशजान् / शमीं शिश्रे विनिः क्षिप्य अरणिं वृषणे क्षिपेत्

Transliteration

kṛṣṇājine samāstīrya ṣaṭ śatāni palāśajān / śamīṃ śiśre viniḥ kṣipya araṇiṃ vṛṣaṇe kṣipet

Translation

कृष्णाजिने समास्तीर्य पलाशकाष्ठखण्डान् षट्शतानि न्यसेत्। शमीकाष्ठं शिश्रे विनिक्षिप्य, वृषणे अरणिं स्थापयित्वा मन्थनकर्म आरभेत्॥

Word by Word

• कृष्णाजिने: on a black hide
• कृष्णाजिने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + अजिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Locative singular; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (कृष्णम् अजिनम्) ‘black skin’

• समास्तीर्य: having spread
• समास्तीर्य: Kriya (Adverbial action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्तॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having spread out’

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; ‘six’ (qualifying śatāni)

• शतानि: hundreds
• शतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Accusative plural (six hundreds)

• पलाशजान्: made from palāśa (wood)
• पलाशजान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलाश + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Accusative plural; समासः तत्पुरुष (पलाशात् जाताः) ‘born from palāśa’

• शमीम्: śamī (wood)
• शमीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• शिश्रे: (one) places/sets (archaic perfect)
• शिश्रे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रि (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — ‘has resorted/has been placed’; here used in ritual-instruction style (textual/archaic)

• विनिः: down/apart
• विनिः: Kriya (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + निः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपसर्ग/निपात-समूह), ‘apart/down/away’ (preverbial adverb)

• क्षिप्य: having placed/thrown
• क्षिप्य: Kriya (Adverbial action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्यय (Gerundial form), ‘having thrown/placing’

• अरणिम्: fire-stick (araṇi)
• अरणिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• वृषणे: on the testicles
• वृषणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Locative singular (on the testicles/groin)

• क्षिपेत्: should place
• क्षिपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — ‘should place/throw’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Preta (recently deceased)

Timing: During antyeṣṭi/fire-establishment phase prior to offerings/cremation-related acts

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct materials, counts, and procedure in kindling Agni for funerary/sacrificial acts.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual exactitude (niyama) as a means to align human action with ṛta/dharma; Agni as mediator of offerings.

Application: Prepare the prescribed seat (kṛṣṇājina), arrange palāśa pieces, set śamī in the lower base, place araṇi on the upper piece, and churn to produce fire for the rite.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: sacrificial/antyeṣṭi ritual enclosure

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana antyeṣṭi apparatus descriptions around 1.107 (fire production and implements)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of araṇi (fire-churning) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes generating and arranging the sacred fire through araṇi with prescribed materials, reflecting the purificatory and dharmic precision expected in rites connected with death and transition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by detailing correct ritual preparation, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that proper rites and dharmic procedure aid the departed being’s orderly passage and reduce obstacles in the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat last rites and sacred rituals with accuracy, purity, and respect for tradition—ensuring the intent (śraddhā) and correct procedure (vidhi) are both honored.