Shloka 2

Āśauca and Udaka-kriyā: Post-Cremation Conduct, Eligibility, and Purifiers

Devanagari script

आ श्मशानादनुव्रज्य इतरैर्ज्ञातिभिर्युतः / यमसूक्तं तथा जप्यं जपद्भिर्लौकिकाग्निना

Transliteration

ā śmaśānādanuvrajya itarairjñātibhiryutaḥ / yamasūktaṃ tathā japyaṃ japadbhirlaukikāgninā

Translation

พร้อมด้วยญาติอื่น ๆ พึงติดตามไปจนถึงป่าช้า/ฌาปนสถาน; และ ณ ที่นั้น ผู้ประกอบพิธีด้วยไฟสามัญพึงสวดภาวนา “ยมสูตร” (Yama-sūkta) ด้วย.

Word by Word

• ā: up to
• ā: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā (अव्यय)
• Form: Preverb/particle indicating limit 'up to'

• śmaśānāt: from the cremation-ground
• śmaśānāt: Apadana (Ablative/source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śmaśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• anuvrajya: having followed
• anuvrajya: Kriya (Gerundial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu-√vraj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), avyaya; 'having followed'

• itaraiḥ: with other
• itaraiḥ: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: itara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; qualifying jñātibhiḥ

• jñātibhiḥ: kinsmen/relatives
• jñātibhiḥ: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• yutaḥ: joined/accompanied
• yutaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √yuj (धातु) + kta)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective to implied subject (he)

• yamasūktam: the Yama-hymn
• yamasūktam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama + sūkta (प्रातिपदिक; components)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of (japyam)

• tathā: also/thus
• tathā: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) 'thus/also'

• japyam: to be recited
• japyam: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: japya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √jap (धातु) + ya, gerundive)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; gerundive/passive necessity: 'to be recited'

• japadbhiḥ: by the reciters
• japadbhiḥ: Kartr-karana (Agentive instrument/कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √jap (धातु) + śatṛ, present participle)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agent-instrument: 'by those reciting'

• laukikāgninā: with ordinary fire
• laukikāgninā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laukika + agni (प्रातिपदिक; components)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; 'worldly/common fire'

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Day of cremation (antyeṣṭi) at the cremation ground

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Relatives accompany the body to the cremation ground; Yama-sūkta is recited; rites proceed with laukikāgni (ordinary fire) as specified.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as communal obligation (ṛṇa) and right performance (yathāvidhi) at life’s end; mantra as ordering principle in transition.

Application: In funerary contexts, prioritize calm, collective coordination; use prescribed recitations and avoid chaotic improvisation; maintain dignity and safety at the cremation site.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cremation_ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.106 (antyeṣṭi sequence: procession, śmaśāna, mantra, agni)

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of the Yama-sūkta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places Yama-sūkta japa as a key cremation-ground recitation, aligning the funeral rite with Yama (lord of death and justice) so the departed is ritually guided and protected during the transition.

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

By prescribing mantra-japa at the śmaśāna, it indicates that the immediate post-death passage is supported through dharmic rites and invocations connected with Yama’s domain, which the departed is understood to approach.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During last rites, families can ensure the cremation is accompanied by appropriate mantra recitation (as per their tradition and priestly guidance), emphasizing disciplined, respectful observance rather than hurried or neglected rites.