Shloka 19

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

जितेन्द्रियमना भूत्वा शुचिप्मान्धर्मतत्परः / दानधर्मरतः शान्तः प्रणम्य वाग्यतः शुचिः

Transliteration

jitendriyamanā bhūtvā śucipmāndharmatatparaḥ / dānadharmarataḥ śāntaḥ praṇamya vāgyataḥ śuciḥ

Translation

ఇంద్రియములను, మనసును జయించి, శుచిగా ధర్మనిష్ఠుడై, దానధర్మాలలో రమించి, శాంతుడై, నమస్కరించి, వాక్సంయమంతో అంతఃబాహ్య శుద్ధితో ఉండాలి.

Word by Word

• जितेन्द्रियमना: one who has conquered the senses and mind
• जितेन्द्रियमना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित-इन्द्रिय-मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य इन्द्रियाणि जितानि सः, मनः (मनस्) अपि जितम्

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having become’

• शुचिमान्: pure, clean
• शुचिमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि-मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त

• धर्मतत्परः: devoted to dharma
• धर्मतत्परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—धर्मे तत्परः

• दानधर्मरतः: engaged in charity and religious duty
• दानधर्मरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान-धर्म-रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार/द्वन्द्व-समासाभासः ‘दानं च धर्मश्च’ इत्यर्थे, तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः—तयोः रतः

• शान्तः: calm, peaceful
• शान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक; शम्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• प्रणम्य: having bowed (in reverence)
• प्रणम्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having bowed’

• वाक्-यतः: restrained in speech
• वाक्-यतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्-यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—वाचा यतः (वाक्-निग्रहीतः)

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Preta Kanda dialogue framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Indriya-jaya, śauca, dāna, and vāg-yama as prerequisites for righteous rites and auspicious progress.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi as preparation for higher knowledge and devotion; karma purified by intention and self-control.

Application: Before and during rites: maintain cleanliness, speak minimally and truthfully, practice charity, and keep the mind collected (not scattered by grief or social display).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ethical-ritual interiority

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-vidhi passages prescribing śauca, self-restraint, and dāna as rite-supporting virtues (general within 2.40)

Characters & Entities

• Dharma

FAQs

What is the importance of self-control and purity in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents self-mastery, cleanliness, and restraint (especially of speech) as core qualifications for dharmic life, which the Garuda Purana links to an auspicious destiny and reduced suffering in the post-death passage.

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

While not naming specific afterlife stages, it states the moral prerequisites—dharma, dāna, peace, and discipline—that shape karma and thereby influence whether the soul’s journey is smooth or troubled in Yama’s domain and beyond.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily restraint (speech and senses), maintain cleanliness, give charity consistently, and prioritize dharma-based decisions—habits the text treats as protective spiritual capital for life and death.