Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 177

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

दाहस्तत्र न कर्तव्यो विषादः सर्वजन्तुषु / न जलं दीयते तेषु अशुभं सर्वदा भवेत्

Transliteration

dāhastatra na kartavyo viṣādaḥ sarvajantuṣu / na jalaṃ dīyate teṣu aśubhaṃ sarvadā bhavet

Translation

ایسی حالت میں دہن (داح) سنسکار نہیں کرنا چاہیے اور اُن جانداروں کے لیے غم بھی نہ کیا جائے۔ اُن کے لیے جل دان نہ دیا جائے، ورنہ ہمیشہ نحوست پیدا ہوتی رہے گی۔

Word by Word

• दाहः: burning/cremation
• दाहः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• कर्तव्यः: to be done/should be done
• कर्तव्यः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicative)

• विषादः: grief
• विषादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वजन्तुषु: among all beings
• सर्वजन्तुषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सर्वे जन्तवः)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दीयते: is given
• दीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• तेषु: to/among them
• तेषु: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), सप्तमी, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• भवेत्: would occur/become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिङ् (Potential/Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain deaths/conditions require non-performance of cremation and udaka-dāna; improper rites generate persistent aśubha.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as ritual causality (kriyā-phala): actions done against vidhi produce adverse results.

Application: Consult śāstric/ācārya guidance before performing antyeṣṭi or water-offerings in exceptional cases; prioritize vidhi over impulse-driven grief.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4 (antyeṣṭi/śrāddha-vidhi context: pañcaka, nakṣatra-doṣa, effigies/puttalā)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of prohibiting cremation in certain cases in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that in specific contexts cremation is not dharmically appropriate, and performing it can generate ongoing inauspiciousness.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Preta Kanda?

By regulating rites like cremation and water-offerings, the text frames which ritual actions support a proper transition and which actions, when misapplied, create negative ritual consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow competent tradition and priestly guidance for death rites; avoid improvising offerings or procedures in exceptional cases, since the text links incorrect rites with persistent inauspicious effects.