Shloka 74

Netra–Nāsa–Mukha Cikitsā, Vraṇa/Bhasma Prayoga, Jvara–Vāta Remedies, and Protective/Uccāṭana Procedures

Devanagari script

संगृह्य विद्वान्काकस्य निलयं प्रदहेच्च तत् / चिताग्नौ भस्म तच्छत्रोर्दत्तं शिरसि शङ्कर

Transliteration

saṃgṛhya vidvānkākasya nilayaṃ pradahecca tat / citāgnau bhasma tacchatrordattaṃ śirasi śaṅkara

Translation

اسے جمع کر کے عالم کو چاہیے کہ کَوّے کے ٹھکانے (گھونسلے) کو جلا دے؛ اور چتا کی آگ کی راکھ دشمن کے سر پر رکھ دے—یوں شَنکر فرماتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• संगृह्य: having collected
• संगृह्य: Kriya (Gerundial/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having collected)

• विद्वान्: a learned person
• विद्वान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञा-धातोः क्तवत्-प्रायः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (the learned one)

• काकस्य: of a crow
• काकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• निलयम्: nest/abode
• निलयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• प्रदहेत्: should burn
• प्रदहेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: that (thing)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चिताग्नौ: in the funeral-pyre fire
• चिताग्नौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चितायाः अग्नौ)

• भस्म: ashes
• भस्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Correlative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शत्रोः: of the enemy
• शत्रोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• दत्तम्: given/placed
• दत्तम्: Kriya (Predicate participle/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि (given/placed)

• शिरसि: on the head
• शिरसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• शङ्कर: O Śaṅkara
• शङ्कर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda, citing Śaṅkara/Śiva as authority)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual acts using liminal substances are believed to produce immediate worldly effects (abhicāra).

Vedantic Theme: Tāmasika karma binds and agitates the mind; power sought through harm reinforces saṃsāric entanglement.

Application: If read descriptively: recognize the text’s catalog of rites; ethically, avoid harmful coercive practices and redirect ritual energy to protective/beneficent ends.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: cremation-ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.177 (uccāṭana/vaśya/abhicāra procedures clustered nearby)

Characters & Entities

• Shankara (Shiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of cremation ash (citā-bhasma) in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse it functions as a ritually potent substance used for protection/warding off harm, presented as an instruction attributed to Śaṅkara.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on death rites?

It connects funeral-pyre elements (citāgni, bhasma) with apotropaic practice, reflecting how the Preta Kanda links post-death ritual materials with protection and pacification measures.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a reminder that rites should be guided by qualified tradition and ethical intent; in modern practice, prioritize legitimate śrāddha/antyeṣṭi guidance and avoid harmful or superstitious misuse.