Shloka 57

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

ऋद्धिवृद्धी भुजौ द्वौ च चक्षुषोश्च कपर्दकौ / सिन्दूरं नेत्रकोणे च ताम्बूलाद्युपहारकैः

Transliteration

ṛddhivṛddhī bhujau dvau ca cakṣuṣośca kapardakau / sindūraṃ netrakoṇe ca tāmbūlādyupahārakaiḥ

Translation

เมื่อถวายหมาก (ตัมบูละ) และเครื่องบูชาอื่น ๆ แล้ว พึงประดับให้ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ โดยตั้งฤทธิ (Ṛddhi) และวฤทธิ (Vṛddhi) เป็นแขนทั้งสอง ประดับดวงตาด้วยเครื่องประดับกปัรทกะ และแต้มสินธุระที่หางตา

Word by Word

• ऋद्धिवृद्धी: (the deities) Ṛddhi and Vṛddhi
• ऋद्धिवृद्धी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋद्धि-वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Nom/Acc dual; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• भुजौ: on the two arms
• भुजौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/प्रथमा?—रूपतः प्रथमा-द्विवचन (भुजौ); Nom dual

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; numeral adjective agreeing with भुजौ

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

• चक्षुषोः: in the two eyes
• चक्षुषोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; here locative dual sense ‘in the two eyes’

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

• कपर्दकौ: two cowries (shells)
• कपर्दकौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपर्दक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Nom/Acc dual

• सिन्दूरम्: vermilion
• सिन्दूरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Nom/Acc singular

• नेत्रकोणे: at the corner of the eye
• नेत्रकोणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र-कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नेत्रस्य कोणः)

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

• ताम्बूलाद्युपहारकैः: with offerings such as betel
• ताम्बूलाद्युपहारकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्बूल-आदि-उपहारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; समासः तत्पुरुष (ताम्बूलादयः उपहारकाः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death śrāddha sequence within preta-śodhana/upacāra steps

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual upacāra (adornment and offerings) as dharmic care for the departed and as a means to confer auspiciousness and order.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier and harmonizer; śraddhā as the inner intent behind external acts.

Application: Perform śrāddha/ekoddiṣṭa with prescribed offerings and symbolic adornments, maintaining cleanliness, gentleness, and focused intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (griha/śrāddha-maṇḍapa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-vidhi sequences around 2.40 (preta-śodhana, upacāra, dāna)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Ṛddhi
• Vṛddhi

FAQs

What is the importance of offerings like tāmbūla (betel) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents tāmbūla and similar upahāras as part of ritual upacāra—items used to honor and symbolically complete the rite by adorning the invoked form with auspicious markers.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Preta Kanda?

In the Preta Kanda, rites and offerings support the transitional state after death; this verse highlights the prescribed ceremonial details (adornment and auspicious symbolism) that accompany those post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or related memorial rites, keep the observance orderly and respectful—offer traditional items (as per family/śāstra guidance) and maintain the intent of honoring the departed with auspicious, sattvic offerings.