Shloka 96

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

दर्भतूली नयेत्स्वर्गमातुरं तु न संशयः / तिलैर्दर्भैश्च निः क्षिप्तैः स्नानं क्रतुमयं भवेत्

Transliteration

darbhatūlī nayetsvargamāturaṃ tu na saṃśayaḥ / tilairdarbhaiśca niḥ kṣiptaiḥ snānaṃ kratumayaṃ bhavet

Translation

దర్భతూలి (కుశగడ్డి పరుపు) మరణాసన్నుడిని నిస్సందేహంగా స్వర్గానికి నడిపిస్తుంది. తిలలు మరియు దర్భలను నీటిలో చల్లి చేసిన స్నానం యజ్ఞసమానమవుతుంది.

Word by Word

• दर्भतूली: a darbha-cushion/tuft (of darbha)
• दर्भतूली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + तूली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (दर्भस्य तूली)

• नयेत्: should lead/carry
• नयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्वर्गम्: to heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Goal/object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आतुरम्: the afflicted/sick person
• आतुरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विरोध/अवधारण/particle)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध/negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तिलैः: with sesame seeds
• तिलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दर्भैः: with darbha grass
• दर्भैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/conjunction)

• निःक्षिप्तैः: having been thrown/scattered
• निःक्षिप्तैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + क्षिप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (तिलैः दर्भैः) इत्यस्य विशेषण

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्रतुमयम्: ritual-like, equivalent to a sacrifice
• क्रतुमयम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (क्रतुमयम् = क्रतुवत्/क्रतुस्वरूपम्)

• भवेत्: would become / should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Copular action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: dying person

Timing: Immediately at/near the time of death (pre-death upacāra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific ritual supports (darbha bed; tila-darbha bath) generate auspicious gati and transform acts into kratu-equivalent merit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as upāya for śuddhi and higher gati; ritual as preparatory aid rather than final end.

Application: Place the dying on a clean kuśa support if appropriate; perform bathing with sesame and kuśa (as per tradition) with focused intention and mantra.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: deathbed/ritual bathing area

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.95 (snāna → smṛti → jñāna); Garuda Purana 2.32.97 (maṇḍala with deities for rite-setting)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of darbha (kuśa) grass for a dying person in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that placing/supporting the dying person on a darbha-made bed or mat is highly meritorious and is said to lead them toward svarga (auspicious post-death destiny), emphasizing darbha’s role as a purifier in last rites.

How does this verse explain the role of ritual bathing in death-related rites?

It teaches that bathing done with tila (sesame) and darbha scattered into the water becomes “kratumaya”—equivalent in sanctity to a sacrificial act—so purification is treated as a rite generating spiritual merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

For those following tradition, it supports using kusa/darbha and sesame in end-of-life or post-death purification rites with reverence; ethically, it highlights caring for the dying with purity, calmness, and disciplined ritual attention.