Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

जलावघट्टनं चव न कुर्युः स्नानकारकाः / ततस्तटे समागत्य शिखां बद्ध्वा ऋजून् कुशान्

Transliteration

jalāvaghaṭṭanaṃ cava na kuryuḥ snānakārakāḥ / tatastaṭe samāgatya śikhāṃ baddhvā ṛjūn kuśān

Translation

స్నానం చేసే వారు నీటిని కలవరపెట్టకూడదు, చిమ్మకూడదు. తరువాత తీరం చేరి శిఖను కట్టుకొని నేరుగా ఉన్న కుశ (దర్భ) గడ్డిని చేతిలో తీసుకోవాలి.

Word by Word

• जलावघट्टनम्: splashing/agitating the water
• जलावघट्टनम्: Karma (Object of न कुर्युः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल-अवघट्टन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: जले अवघट्टनम् (splashing/agitating in water); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

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

• कुर्युः: should do
• कुर्युः: Karta (Predicate verb of स्नानकारकाः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपदम्

• स्नानकारकाः: those performing the bath
• स्नानकारकाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान-कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: स्नानं कारयन्ति/कुर्वन्ति इति (those performing bathing); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thereafter/from there)

• तटे: on the bank
• तटे: Adhikarana (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• समागत्य: having come/approached
• समागत्य: Kriya-viseshana (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive)

• शिखाम्: topknot
• शिखाम्: Karma (Object of बद्ध्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• बद्ध्वा: having tied
• बद्ध्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive)

• ऋजून्: straight
• ऋजून्: Visheshana (Qualifier of कुशान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋजु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कुशान्: kuśa grass (blades)
• कुशान्: Karma (Object implied: to take/place)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after purificatory bath, before offerings.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on restraint and exact procedure—avoid splashing; prepare śikhā and kuśa properly.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) as outer form of inner steadiness; karma performed with saṃskāra and attention.

Application: In rites, minimize disturbance and distractions; prepare materials (kuśa) neatly and follow sequence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.73: silent immersion; Garuda Purana 2.4.75: tila-jala in añjali

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Kuśa (Darbha grass)

FAQs

What is the importance of not splashing or agitating water during ritual bathing in the Garuda Purana?

It emphasizes disciplined, sattvic purification—bathing is treated as a solemn rite, not casual play, especially in death-related observances where restraint and ritual focus are required.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly, it supports the larger Preta-kāṇḍa framework: correct rites and purity-conduct by the living aid the deceased’s transition and reduce obstacles caused by improper ritual behavior.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing any sacred bath or post-funeral observance, maintain calmness and decorum, follow traditional steps (including use of darbha/kuśa where customary), and treat purification as mindful practice rather than hurried routine.