Shloka 172

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

Devanagari script

सूतिकायां मृतायान्तु एवं कुर्वन्ति याज्ञिकाः / कुम्भे सलिलमादाय पञ्चगव्यं तथैव च

Transliteration

sūtikāyāṃ mṛtāyāntu evaṃ kurvanti yājñikāḥ / kumbhe salilamādāya pañcagavyaṃ tathaiva ca

Translation

ప్రసవావస్థలో స్త్రీ మరణించినప్పుడు యాజ్ఞికులు ఈ విధంగా కర్మాచరణం చేస్తారు—కలశంలో నీటిని తీసుకొని, అలాగే పంచగవ్యము (గోవు యొక్క ఐదు పవిత్ర ద్రవ్యాలు) సిద్ధం చేస్తారు।

Word by Word

• सूतिकायाम्: in the case of a woman in childbirth (sūtikā)
• सूतिकायाम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मृतायाम्: when (she) is dead
• मृतायाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृता (कृदन्त; √मृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कुर्वन्ति: they do
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• याज्ञिकाः: ritualists (performers of yajña)
• याज्ञिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्ञिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कुम्भे: in a pot
• कुम्भे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सलिलम्: water
• सलिलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) उपसर्ग-आ + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/त्वान्त-प्रयोग); ‘आ + √दा’

• पञ्चगव्यम्: pañcagavya (five products of the cow)
• पञ्चगव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + गव्य (प्रातिपदिक); पञ्चगव्य (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गवां गव्यं)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Mata

Timing: immediate funeral-preparatory phase (antyeṣṭi preliminaries)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aśauca and śuddhi are addressed through specific saṃskāra procedures, especially in exceptional deaths (childbirth).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier of conduct (ācāra-śuddhi) supporting sattva and social-spiritual order.

Application: In cases of death during childbirth, prepare kumbha-jala and pañcagavya as part of the prescribed purification before subsequent rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/cremation-preparatory space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: sections on antyeṣṭi/śuddhi for special deaths (sūtikā, rajasvalā); Garuda Purana: śrāddha and aśauca discussions connected to funeral preliminaries

Characters & Entities

• Yajñikas
• Pañcagavya

FAQs

What is the importance of pañcagavya in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse highlights pañcagavya as a key purificatory substance used by ritualists, especially in sensitive death-cases like death during childbirth, to sanctify the rite with traditional cleansing agents.

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

Indirectly: by prescribing correct ritual handling (water in a pot and pañcagavya), it emphasizes that orderly purification and funerary procedure support the deceased’s transition into the post-death state described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing or commissioning last rites, follow qualified guidance and maintain ritual cleanliness—this verse specifically points to traditional purification materials (kumbha-water and pañcagavya) for rites conducted under exceptional circumstances.