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Shloka 33

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

एतेषां कृपया राजंस्त्वं कुरुष्वौर्ध्वदेहिकम् / येषां न माता न पिता न पुत्रो न च बान्धवाः

Transliteration

eteṣāṃ kṛpayā rājaṃstvaṃ kuruṣvaurdhvadehikam / yeṣāṃ na mātā na pitā na putro na ca bāndhavāḥ

Translation

ข้าแต่พระราชา ด้วยความกรุณา โปรดประกอบพิธีอูรธวเทหิกะ (พิธีหลังความตาย) ให้แก่คนเหล่านั้น—ผู้ไร้มารดา ไร้บิดา ไร้บุตร และไร้ญาติพี่น้อง

Word by Word
एतेषाम्of these
एतेषाम्:
Sambandha (Of these)
TypeNoun
Rootएतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन
कृपयाby compassion, out of pity
कृपया:
Hetu/Karaṇa (Motive/means: out of compassion)
TypeNoun
Rootकृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन
राजन्O king
राजन्:
Sambodhana (Address)
TypeNoun
Rootराजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन
त्वम्you
त्वम्:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन
कुरुष्वdo, perform
कुरुष्व:
Kriya (Command)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formलोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘कुरु’ + ‘स्व’ (आगम/निपात)
और्ध्वदेहिकम्post-funeral rite for the departed
और्ध्वदेहिकम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देहिक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुषसमास (सम्बन्ध: ‘ऊर्ध्वं देहात्’/‘देहानन्तरं’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म
येषाम्of whom
येषाम्:
Sambandha (Of whom)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन
नnot
न:
Pratiṣedha
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध (negation particle)
माताmother
माता:
Karta (Subject of implied ‘अस्ति’)
TypeNoun
Rootमातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अस्ति-लोपे)
नnot
न:
Pratiṣedha
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध
पिताfather
पिता:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अस्ति-लोपे)
नnot
न:
Pratiṣedha
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध
पुत्रःson
पुत्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अस्ति-लोपे)
नnot
न:
Pratiṣedha
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध
चand
च:
Samuccaya
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय (conjunction)
बान्धवाःrelatives
बान्धवाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootबान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (अस्ति-लोपे)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra, instructing via narrative about dharma and rites for the departed)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After death; during the period when ūrdhva-dehika rites are due

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Compassionate performance of post-death rites for the kinless is a meritorious duty that alleviates preta-distress and upholds cosmic/social order.

Vedantic Theme: Sevā and dharma as purifying action (karma-yoga-like); compassion reduces egoic separation and supports the jīva’s transition.

Application: Create community mechanisms (temple trusts, municipal/royal duty, family networks) to perform last rites and śrāddha for the unclaimed dead.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: didactic address to a ruler/householder figure

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: ūrdhva-dehika, śrāddha, and relief of pretas through rites and charity (theme-parallel)

Characters & Entities
K
King
D
Departed souls (pretas)
R
Relatives (bandhavas)

FAQs

This verse stresses that post-death rites are a compassionate duty that supports the departed even when no family remains to perform the customary observances.

By urging performance of ūrdhvadehika for the unprotected dead, it implies that proper rites are considered spiritually consequential for the departed’s post-mortem condition, a key concern of the Preta Kanda.

Support community funeral services and śrāddha/antyeṣṭi arrangements for the unclaimed or abandoned dead, treating such care as a social and ethical responsibility.

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