Shloka 70

Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence

Devanagari script

त्यक्त्वा चाति प्रियान्प्राणाञ्जुहावाग्नौ यथाविधि / ततो निष्कण्टकं तद्धि वीक्ष्य हृष्टो गतो गृहम्

Transliteration

tyaktvā cāti priyānprāṇāñjuhāvāgnau yathāvidhi / tato niṣkaṇṭakaṃ taddhi vīkṣya hṛṣṭo gato gṛham

Translation

หลังจากสละลมหายใจอันเป็นที่รักยิ่ง เขาได้ถวายมันลงในกองไฟตามพิธีกรรมที่กำหนด จากนั้นเมื่อเห็นว่าอุปสรรคทั้งหลายหมดไปแล้ว ข้าพเจ้าจึงกลับบ้านด้วยความปิติยินดี

Word by Word

• tyaktvā: having abandoned
• tyaktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ati: very, exceedingly
• ati: Viśeṣaṇa-dyotaka (Intensifier/अतिशय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ati (अव्यय)
• Form: अतिशयार्थक-अव्यय (intensifier)

• priyān: dear (ones)
• priyān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• prāṇān: lives, vital breaths
• prāṇān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• juhāva: he offered (as oblation)
• juhāva: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hu (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• agnau: in the fire
• agnau: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• yathāvidhi: according to the prescribed rule
• yathāvidhi: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā-vidhi (अव्ययीभाव-समास; yathā + vidhi)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास, क्रियाविशेषण

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kārya-krama (Sequence/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादान/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (then/from that)

• niṣkaṇṭakam: thornless, unobstructed
• niṣkaṇṭakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣ-kaṇṭaka (प्रातिपदिक; niṣ + kaṇṭaka)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (free from thorns/obstacles)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/indeed)

• vīkṣya: having seen
• vīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• hṛṣṭaḥ: delighted
• hṛṣṭaḥ: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √hṛṣ + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त used adjectivally

• gataḥ: went
• gataḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √gam + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त functioning as finite (periphrastic past)

• gṛham: to the house
• gṛham: Karma (Goal/कर्म-गति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; गन्तव्य-कर्म

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness (vidhi) and resolute tyāga are portrayed as means to remove impediments (vighna) and secure desired outcomes.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa efficacy within dharma; also a hint that surrender/tyāga purifies the doer.

Application: Perform duties with discipline and clarity; complete necessary rites without procrastination; cultivate inner offering (īśvara-arpana-buddhi).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: emphasis on yathāvidhi rites and their consequences; Garuda Purana: narratives where ritual action removes vighna and changes fate

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of performing rites “yathāvidhi” in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that actions done exactly as prescribed (yathāvidhi) are considered spiritually effective and “unobstructed” (niṣkaṇṭaka), implying smoother outcomes in dharmic and afterlife contexts.

How does this verse explain the removal of obstacles in the soul’s journey?

By portraying a duly performed offering into Agni, the verse links correct ritual action with an “obstacle-free” result (niṣkaṇṭaka), a recurring Preta Kanda theme that proper rites support the departed and reduce impediments.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow essential rites and duties with care and authenticity—whether funerary practices, prayers, or ethical obligations—because disciplined, rule-aligned action is taught to minimize avoidable complications and remorse.