Shloka 86

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

वाससी परिधार्याथ धौते तु शुचि नी शुभे / दर्भाण्यादौ समास्तीर्य दक्षिणाग्रान्विकीर्य च

Transliteration

vāsasī paridhāryātha dhaute tu śuci nī śubhe / darbhāṇyādau samāstīrya dakṣiṇāgrānvikīrya ca

Translation

پھر دھلے ہوئے، پاک اور مبارک دو کپڑے پہنائے جائیں، پہلے دربھ گھاس بچھائی جائے اور اس کے سِرے جنوب کی طرف کر کے پھیلا دیے جائیں۔

Word by Word

• वाससी: two garments
• वाससी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन

• परिधार्य: having put on
• परिधार्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + धृ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/क्त्वार्थीय अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): having put on

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then)

• धौते: washed
• धौते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धौत (प्रातिपदिक; धाव्/धौ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन (वाससी इति विशेष्ये)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• शुचिनी: clean, pure
• शुचिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; विशेषण (pure)

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; विशेषण (auspicious)

• दर्भाणि: darbha grasses
• दर्भाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• आदौ: at the beginning/first
• आदौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (at first/at the beginning)

• समास्तीर्य: having spread (them) evenly
• समास्तीर्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्तॄ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): having spread out properly

• दक्षिणाग्रान्: with tips toward the south
• दक्षिणाग्रान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; दर्भान् इति विशेष्ये (having tips to the south)

• विकीर्य: having scattered
• विकीर्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + कृ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): having strewn/scattered

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual śauca and dik-niyama (directional rule): purity of clothing and correct placement of darbha establish a sanctified field for transition rites.

Vedantic Theme: Outer order supports inner steadiness; niyama as a support for sattva at liminal moments.

Application: Use clean garments; prepare a designated clean area; follow directional conventions of the tradition to reduce confusion and maintain sanctity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household-ritual ground/altar space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.85 (bathing/purification); Garuda Purana 2.32.87 (tila on gomaya-smeared ground)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Darbha

FAQs

What is the importance of clean, washed garments in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse emphasizes śauca (ritual purity): wearing washed, clean, auspicious cloth is presented as a prerequisite before beginning preta-kriyā steps.

Why is darbha grass spread with its tips facing south in these rites?

The verse instructs arranging darbha with south-facing tips, aligning the ritual setup with the southern direction traditionally associated with Yama and ancestral/funeral contexts in śrāddha and antyeṣṭi-related procedures.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and intentionality in sacred actions: begin important rites or prayers with physical cleanliness and a properly prepared, respectful ritual space.