Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 18

The Explanation of the Post-funeral Rites (Aurdhvadehika) and Related Matters

Devanagari script

दाह (बलि) स्तत्र न कर्तव्यो विप्रदिसर्वजातिषु / दीयते न जलं तत्र अशुभं जायते ध्रुवम् / लोकयात्रा न कर्तव्या दुः खार्तः स्वजनो यदि

Transliteration

dāha (bali) statra na kartavyo vipradisarvajātiṣu / dīyate na jalaṃ tatra aśubhaṃ jāyate dhruvam / lokayātrā na kartavyā duḥ khārtaḥ svajano yadi

Translation

Sa gayong kalagayan, hindi dapat isagawa ang pagsusunog ng bangkay at ang handog na bali—maging para sa isang brāhmaṇa o sa alinmang uri ng tao. Huwag ding mag-alay ng tubig doon, sapagkat tiyak na lilitaw ang di-mapalad. Gayundin, kung ang sariling kamag-anak ay pinahihirapan ng dalamhati, huwag munang lumabas sa mga pagtitipon o makisangkot sa mga gawaing pampubliko.

Word by Word

• दाहः: cremation/burning
• दाहः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बलिः: offering (bali)
• बलिः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; (parenthetical variant/alternative rite)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb): 'there/in that context'

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Niṣedha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• कर्तव्यः: to be done/should be performed
• कर्तव्यः: विधेयविशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तव्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/obligatory): 'to be done'

• विप्र-आदि-सर्व-जातिषु: among all communities starting with brāhmaṇas
• विप्र-आदि-सर्व-जातिषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: (विप्रादयः) + सर्वजातयः → 'among all castes beginning with brāhmaṇas'

• दीयते: is given
• दीयते: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): 'is given'

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Niṣedha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; here as कर्म in passive

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय

• अशुभम्: inauspiciousness/evil
• अशुभम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जायते: arises/is born
• जायते: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative): 'certainly'

• लोकयात्रा: worldly activity/procession
• लोकयात्रा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'worldly procession/going about (social activity)'

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Niṣedha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• कर्तव्या: to be done/should be performed
• कर्तव्या: विधेयविशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तव्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive): 'to be done'

• दुःख-आर्तः: afflicted with grief
• दुःख-आर्तः: विधेयविशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'afflicted by sorrow'

• स्वजनः: one's own relative
• स्वजनः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: सम्बन्ध (Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तबोधक अव्यय (conditional particle): 'if'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: During pañcaka/inauspicious condition; also when close kin are in active grief.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: During tainted time/conditions, avoid cremation-related acts, bali, and udaka-dāna; also avoid public/social activity when close kin are in grief.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma regulates action according to context (deśa-kāla-pātra); compassion and ritual order restrain impulsive action.

Application: Postpone certain rites and public engagements during pañcaka/inauspicious windows and during acute family bereavement; maintain appropriate śauca and counsel from ācārya.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.35 (rules on pañcaka and funeral/offerings timing)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding certain rites in the Garuda Purana during inauspicious conditions?

This verse teaches that performing cremation-related actions and offerings in an improper or inauspicious context is considered dharmically unsuitable and is said to generate aśubha (inauspicious results).

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

Preta Kanda emphasizes that correct timing and purity of rites support the deceased’s transition; this verse cautions that wrongly performed rites can create inauspiciousness, disrupting the intended spiritual support provided through funerary observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow established family/śāstric guidelines for funeral rites, avoid performing rituals in unsuitable circumstances, and prioritize compassionate presence—reducing social engagements when close relatives are in mourning.