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Shloka 166

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

मया ते ऽयं समाख्यातो दुर्मृतस्य विधिः खग / तदा मृतं विजानीयाद्दीपनिर्वाणमागतः

Transliteration

mayā te 'yaṃ samākhyāto durmṛtasya vidhiḥ khaga / tadā mṛtaṃ vijānīyāddīpanirvāṇamāgataḥ

Translation

โอวิหค (ครุฑ)! เราได้อธิบายวิธีว่าด้วยความตายอันยากลำบากแก่เจ้าแล้ว ครั้นเมื่อเปลวประทีปดับลง จึงพึงรู้ว่าเขาถึงความตายแล้ว

Word by Word
मयाby me
मया:
Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formतृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
तेto you
ते:
Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formचतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (enclitic)
अयम्this
अयम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
समाख्यातःhas been explained
समाख्यातः:
Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-आ-ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
दुर्मृतस्यof an evil/untimely death
दुर्मृतस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootदुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मृत (कृदन्त; मृ-धातु, क्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दुष्टं/दुर्लभं मृतम्)
विधिःthe rule/procedure
विधिः:
Pratijna/Predicate (Apposition/विशेष्य)
TypeNoun
Rootविधि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
खगO bird (Garuḍa)
खग:
Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootखग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन
तदाthen
तदा:
Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; कालवाचक (then/at that time)
मृतम्(him) dead / death
मृतम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत (कृदन्त; मृ-धातु, क्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used substantively
विजानीयात्one should know/recognize
विजानीयात्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवि-ज्ञा (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
दीपनिर्वाणम्the extinguishing of a lamp
दीपनिर्वाणम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदीप (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्वाण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दीपस्य निर्वाणम्)
आगतःhaving occurred/come about
आगतः:
Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootआ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) used as past active sense; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after confirming death (lamp extinguished) as a marker to begin post-death procedures; subsequent śrāddha follows in due sequence.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Procedure regarding ‘durmṛta’ (difficult/inauspicious death) and a practical sign for confirming death: the lamp’s flame going out.

Vedantic Theme: Impermanence (anityatā) and the liminal moment of prāṇa departure; dharmic order in responding to death.

Application: Use clear, agreed indicators and proper procedure at end-of-life; once death is confirmed, proceed with appropriate rites and responsibilities without confusion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.162-165 (preceding prāyaścitta context)

Characters & Entities
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse treats the extinguishing of the lamp as a practical indicator by which relatives may ascertain that death has occurred, within the context of rules for handling a difficult or inauspicious death (durmṛtyu).

Indirectly: it marks the transition point—when death is recognized—after which the prescribed post-death rites for the preta-stage become relevant in the Garuda Purana’s narrative.

Use it as a reminder to be attentive and composed at end-of-life moments, and to follow one’s tradition’s lawful, compassionate procedures for confirming death and beginning appropriate last rites.

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