Shloka 34

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

तथा कार्यं महाबाहो कृपा यदि मयीष्यते / आत्मनश्च कुरु क्षिप्रं सर्वमेवौर्ध्वेदैहिकम्

Transliteration

tathā kāryaṃ mahābāho kṛpā yadi mayīṣyate / ātmanaśca kuru kṣipraṃ sarvamevaurdhvedaihikam

Translation

ข้าแต่มหาพาหุ หากทรงประสงค์จะเมตตาข้าพเจ้า ก็ขอทรงกระทำโดยเร็วด้วยพระองค์เองซึ่งพิธีกรรมหลังความตาย (อูรธวะไทหิกะ) ทั้งปวง

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in that way)

• कार्यम्: the task (to be done)
• कार्यम्: Karman (Object of implied action/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय/आज्ञार्थे (that which is to be done)

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• महाबाहो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (महाबाहुः यस्य सः)

• कृपा: compassion
• कृपा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तबोधक अव्यय (conditional particle: if)

• मयि: in me / toward me
• मयि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ईष्यते: is (felt) / is desired
• ईष्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे/कर्तरि (is desired/exists as intention)

• आत्मनः: of yourself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

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

• कुरु: do
• कुरु: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied कर्म)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle: indeed/just)

• और्ध्वदैहिकम्: pertaining to post-death rites
• और्ध्वदैहिकम्: Karman (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व + दैहिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ऊर्ध्वं दैहिकं यत्) = post-death rites-related; विशेषण (qualifying सर्वम्)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately/quickly after death-related obligation is recognized (emphasis on promptness)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Timely performance of ūrdhva-dehika (post-death) rites is a dharmic necessity; compassion motivates swift ritual action.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier and harmonizer; right action reduces bondage born of neglect and restores sattva in the family line.

Application: Do not delay essential end-of-life and post-death responsibilities; arrange last rites, documentation, and family support promptly and respectfully.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/royal domain (ritual space)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: prescriptions for aurdhva-dehika/ūrdhva-deha rites and consequences of neglect; śrāddha sequences leading to preta-release

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of ūrdhva-deha rites in Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that compassion is expressed by promptly completing the required post-death rites, which are treated as a dharmic duty that supports the departed’s onward condition after death.

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

By urging immediate performance of ūrdhva-deha observances, it implies that the post-death journey is influenced by timely ritual support, a recurring theme in the Preta Kanda’s description of the departed’s transitional state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Act without delay in essential duties—especially caring actions done for others (and one’s future well-being)—and, in a ritual context, ensure funerary/śrāddha responsibilities are carried out promptly and correctly.