Shloka 88

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

प्रागुदक्शिरसं वापि मुखे स्वर्णं विनिः क्षेपेत् / शालग्रामशिला तत्र तुलसी च खगेश्वर

Transliteration

prāgudakśirasaṃ vāpi mukhe svarṇaṃ viniḥ kṣepet / śālagrāmaśilā tatra tulasī ca khageśvara

Translation

โอ้คเฆศวรครุฑ! จงจัดให้ผู้ใกล้สิ้นลมหายใจนอนโดยหันศีรษะไปทางทิศตะวันออกหรือทิศเหนือ แล้ววางทองคำไว้ในปาก; และ ณ ที่นั้นให้วางศิลา ศาลคราม กับใบตูลสีด้วย

Word by Word

• prāk: eastward / in front
• prāk: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāk (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिक्-निर्देशक (directional adverb)

• udak-śirasam: having the head towards the north (water-side)
• udak-śirasam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udak (प्रातिपदिक) + śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (उदकं शिरसि यस्य/उदकशिरस्)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also/even)

• mukhe: in the mouth
• mukhe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• svarṇam: gold
• svarṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• viniḥkṣepet: should place/put down
• viniḥkṣepet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√kṣip (धातु) उपसर्ग: vi + nis
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śālagrāma-śilā: the Śālagrāma stone
• śālagrāma-śilā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāma (प्रातिपदिक) + śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शालग्रामस्य शिला)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• tulasī: Tulasī (holy basil)
• tulasī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• khageśvara: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• khageśvara: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Antima-smṛti is strengthened by Viṣṇu-sambandha (Śālagrāma, tulasī) and auspicious saṃskāra at the threshold of death.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and smṛti at antima-kāla as a support for gati; vairāgya is implied by preparing to depart.

Application: At end-of-life, orient the body east/north if possible; place tulasī and (traditionally) Śālagrāma near/with the person; keep the mind on Viṣṇu rather than fear.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.89-92 (ghee lamp, japa, worship, charity, detachment); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes: antima-smṛti, viṣṇu-nāma, dāna at death

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khageshvara)
• Shalagrama
• Tulasi

FAQs

What is the importance of placing gold in the mouth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes placing gold in the mouth as part of death-bed/last-moment rites, a sanctifying offering intended to support auspicious passage at death.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing correct orientation (east or north) and Viṣṇu-linked sanctifiers (Śālagrāma and tulasī), it frames the moment of death as spiritually directed and protected, aiding a favorable transition into the post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following tradition under qualified guidance, keep the dying person oriented east/north when feasible and remember Viṣṇu with tulasī/Śālagrāma as devotional supports; more broadly, cultivate remembrance of dharma and devotion so the final moment is steady and sacred.