Garuda Purana 2.2.27 — Preta Kalpa, Adhyaya 2, Shloka 27

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

मृत्युकाले क्षिपेद्दर्भान्करयोरातुरस्य च / दर्भैस्तु क्षिप्यते यो ऽसौ दर्भैस्तु परिवेष्टितः

Transliteration

mṛtyukāle kṣipeddarbhānkarayorāturasya ca / darbhaistu kṣipyate yo 'sau darbhaistu pariveṣṭitaḥ

Translation

ยามใกล้มรณะ จงวางหญ้าดರ್ಭะลงในมือทั้งสองของผู้กำลังสิ้นใจ ผู้จากไปนั้นย่อมได้รับการเกื้อหนุนด้วยดರ್ಭะ—มีดರ್ಭะประกอบ และประหนึ่งถูกดರ್ಭะโอบล้อมคุ้มครอง

Word by Word

• मृत्युकाले: at the time of death
• मृत्युकाले: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मृत्योः कालः) (Loc. sg. masc.)

• क्षिपेत्: should place/throw
• क्षिपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Optative, 3rd sg.: should throw/place)

• दर्भान्: darbha grasses
• दर्भान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Acc. pl. masc.)

• करयोः: of (his) two hands
• करयोः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन (Gen. dual)

• आतुरस्य: of the afflicted person
• आतुरस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Gen. sg. masc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दर्भैः: with darbha grasses
• दर्भैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Instr. pl. masc.)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषबोधक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• क्षिप्यते: is placed/strewn
• क्षिप्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि प्रयोग (Present, 3rd sg., passive: is thrown/placed)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Nom. sg. masc.)

• असौ: that person
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Nom. sg. masc.)

• दर्भैः: with darbha grasses
• दर्भैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Instr. pl. masc.)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषबोधक-अव्यय (particle)

• परिवेष्टितः: wrapped around, encircled
• परिवेष्टितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + √वेष्ट् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (past passive participle; nom. sg. masc.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At mṛtyu-kāla (time of death) as part of immediate protective observances preceding formal post-death rites.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: At death, placing darbha in the hands of the departing is a dharmic protective act, symbolically encircling and guiding the jīva.

Vedantic Theme: Upāya at the saṃkramaṇa (transition) moment; external supports steady the mind and ritual order, aiding auspicious gati.

Application: Place clean darbha/kuśa in the dying person’s hands with reverence; maintain a quiet, sattvic atmosphere and continuity of care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: liminal domestic space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: kuśa/darbha as pavitra in antyeṣṭi and śrāddha settings; Garuda Purana: protective measures for the preta’s safe passage

Characters & Entities

• Darbhā (Kuśa grass)
• Atura (the dying person)

FAQs

What is the importance of darbha (kuśa grass) at the time of death in Garuda Purana?

This verse instructs placing darbha in the dying person’s hands, presenting it as a ritual support that symbolically guards and steadies the departing individual at death.

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

While not detailing the full journey here, it emphasizes correct death-time observance: the dying person is ritually ‘accompanied’ and ‘encircled’ by darbha, implying protective auspiciousness at the threshold of departure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following traditional rites, ensure deathbed observances are calm and dharmic; darbha may be used as prescribed by family tradition or priestly guidance, with the broader takeaway being mindful, reverent support for the dying.