Shloka 24

Akalamṛtyu-kāraṇa and Bāla Antyeṣṭi: Age-graded Funeral Rites, Śrāddha Types, and Sonship Duties

Devanagari script

ऋजुदर्भैस्तिलैः शुक्लैः प्राचीनावीति निश्चितम् / अपसव्यं च कर्तव्यं कृते यान्ति परां गतिम्

Transliteration

ṛjudarbhaistilaiḥ śuklaiḥ prācīnāvīti niścitam / apasavyaṃ ca kartavyaṃ kṛte yānti parāṃ gatim

Translation

พึงประกอบพิธีนี้โดยแน่วแน่ตามแบบ “ปราจีนาวีติ” ใช้หญ้าดัรภะที่ตรงและงาขาว และให้สวมสายศักดิ์สิทธิ์ (ยัชโญปวีตะ) ในท่า “อปสัวยะ”; เมื่อทำครบถ้วนแล้ว ผู้ล่วงลับย่อมถึงคติอันสูงสุด

Word by Word

• ऋजु-दर्भैः: with straight darbha-grass
• ऋजु-दर्भैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋजु (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (ऋजवः दर्भाः)

• तिलैः: with sesame seeds
• तिलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• शुक्लैः: white
• शुक्लैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (तिलैः/दर्भैः)

• प्राचीनावी: (it is) ‘prācīnāvī’ (the prācīnāvī arrangement)
• प्राचीनावी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राचीनावी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्तृ/Subject), एकवचन; ‘प्राचीनावी’ इति संज्ञा (a ritual arrangement/position)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha/Quotative (इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative/marker)

• निश्चितम्: is determined/decided
• निश्चितम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√चि (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः—‘निश्चितम्’ = ‘it is determined/settled’

• अपसव्यम्: counterclockwise / with the left side (apasavya)
• अपसव्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपसव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्तव्यम्)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त, gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय—‘should be done’

• कृते: when it is done / upon performance
• कृते: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; ‘कृते’ = ‘when done/after being performed’

• यान्ति: they go/attain
• यान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• पराम्: supreme
• पराम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गतिम्)

• गतिम्: state/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness (vidhi) and purity of implements (ṛju-darbha, śukla-tila) with prācīnāvīti/apasavya orientation yields spiritual benefit to the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as upāya: right action performed with śraddhā produces subtle results (adṛṣṭa) affecting gati.

Application: In śrāddha/pinda offerings, use prescribed darbha and white sesame; wear yajñopavīta in apasavya for pitṛ-kārya; follow prācīnāvīti procedure as taught by one’s tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (griha/śrāddha-vedi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections: repeated injunctions on apasavya for pitṛ-kārya; use of tila and darbha in śrāddha

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Departed soul (preta)

FAQs

What is the importance of prācīnāvīti and apasavya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats them as mandatory markers of pitṛ-rites: prācīnāvīti identifies the ancestral mode of the ritual, and apasavya indicates the correct wearing of the sacred thread for offerings to the Pitṛs.

How does this verse explain the benefit of correct śrāddha procedure for the departed?

It links precise observance—using straight darbha, white sesame, and the apasavya posture—to the departed attaining a “supreme gati,” emphasizing that ritual correctness supports the soul’s onward welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or memorial rites, follow the traditional rules for materials and yajñopavīta position under qualified guidance, treating the rite as a disciplined act of duty and remembrance.