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Shloka 32

Akalamṛtyu-kāraṇa and Bāla Antyeṣṭi: Age-graded Funeral Rites, Śrāddha Types, and Sonship Duties

Devanagari script

काङ्कां गतिमवाप्नोति जायो मृत्युवशं गतः / भवेन्न दुहिता यस्य न दौहित्रो न वा सुतः

Transliteration

kāṅkāṃ gatimavāpnoti jāyo mṛtyuvaśaṃ gataḥ / bhavenna duhitā yasya na dauhitro na vā sutaḥ

Translation

మరణాధీనుడైన మనిషి దయనీయ గతిని పొందుతాడు—ప్రత్యేకించి అతనికి కుమార్తె గానీ, దౌహిత్రుడు గానీ, కుమారుడు గానీ లేకపోతే।

Word by Word
काङ्काम्desire/longing
काङ्काम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकाङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
गतिम्state/condition/going
गतिम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootगति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
अवाप्नोतिattains
अवाप्नोति:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअव + √आप् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन
जायःthe husband
जायः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootजाय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘husband’ (rare)
मृत्युवशम्the control of death
मृत्युवशम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मृत्योः वशः)
गतःhas gone (fallen under)
गतः:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त; क्त)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘gone/subjected’
भवेत्would be
भवेत्:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√भू (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ्-लकार (potential/optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन
नnot
न:
Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-निपात
दुहिताdaughter
दुहिता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
यस्यwhose
यस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (whose)
नno/not
न:
Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-निपात
दौहित्रःdaughter's son (grandson)
दौहित्रः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदौहित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
नnor
न:
Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-निपात
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (Disjunction/विकल्प)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्प-निपात (or)
सुतःson
सुतः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसुत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Without daughter, dauhitra, or son, a dying person faces a ‘kāṅkā’ (wretched/longing) condition—implying the dharmic importance of progeny for ritual continuity and support at death.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāric dependence on relational supports; the role of gṛhastha-dharma in sustaining pitṛ-ṛṇa and social order.

Application: Plan responsibly for end-of-life rites and care; if no biological descendants, arrange lawful/ritual alternatives (adoption, appointed performers, community support) consistent with tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.25 (transition toward śrāddha questions and ancestral debt)

Characters & Entities
M
Mrityu (Death)

FAQs

This verse links post-death welfare to the presence of descendants who can continue śrāddha, tarpaṇa, and piṇḍa-dāna—supports believed to aid the departed’s onward journey and ancestral obligations.

It implies that when a person falls under “Death’s control,” their post-mortem condition can become difficult if there is no family line to sustain the prescribed rites that traditionally uphold the preta’s transition and pitṛ-related duties.

Maintain ancestral duties (śrāddha/tarpaṇa) and ensure end-of-life and post-death arrangements are responsibly planned within the family or community so that traditional obligations are not neglected.

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