Shloka 55

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

घृतं नाभ्यां प्रदेयं स्यात्कौपीने च त्रपु स्मृतम् / मौक्तिकं स्तनयोर्मूर्ध्नि कुङ्कुमेन विलेपनम्

Transliteration

ghṛtaṃ nābhyāṃ pradeyaṃ syātkaupīne ca trapu smṛtam / mauktikaṃ stanayormūrdhni kuṅkumena vilepanam

Translation

ناف پر گھی کا لیپ کرنا چاہیے؛ لنگوٹ کے لیے تِرَپُ (ٹن) مقرر ہے؛ چھاتی پر موتی رکھے جائیں؛ اور سر پر کُنگُکم کا ملہم لگایا جائے۔

Word by Word

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom/Acc singular

• नाभ्याम्: with/at the two navels (navel area)
• नाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Instrumental dual

• प्रदेयम्: to be offered/placed
• प्रदेयम्: Karya (कार्य/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु) + य (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्/अनीयर्-भाव), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; gerundive ‘to be given/placed’

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd sg optative

• कौपीने: in the loincloth
• कौपीने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौपीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• त्रपु: tin (metal)
• त्रपु: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom/Acc singular

• स्मृतम्: is stated/considered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is said/remembered’

• मौक्तिकम्: pearl
• मौक्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौक्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom/Acc singular

• स्तनयोः: of the two breasts
• स्तनयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Genitive dual

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• कुङ्कुमेन: with saffron/vermilion
• कुङ्कुमेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• विलेपनम्: anointing/smearing
• विलेपनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-लिप् (धातु) + अन (ल्युट्)
• Form: ल्युट्-प्रत्यय (action noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘smearing/anointing’

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During preta-period śrāddha/ancillary rites involving upacāra-like provisions.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual purity and completeness are expressed through anointing and adornment; offerings function as compassionate dharma toward the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as preparatory/auxiliary within saṃsāra; sanctification of transient embodiment while remembering impermanence.

Application: Perform rites with cleanliness and right materials; let ritual care become a disciplined expression of remembrance and responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.40 sequence of body-part offerings and adornments (surrounding verses).; Garuda Purana śrāddha sections describing materials (ghṛta, gandha, vastra) and their merits.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of applying ghee at the navel in Garuda Purana rites?

This verse treats it as a prescribed funerary application (a ritual saṃskāra detail) to be performed on the body, indicating careful, rule-based preparation in antyeṣṭi-related observances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct external rites and prescribed items, it reflects the Preta Kanda’s broader framework that orderly rituals support the deceased’s transition through the post-death stages described in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing traditional funeral observances, follow the guidance of competent priests and local śāstric custom; the takeaway is disciplined adherence to dharmic procedure rather than improvisation in rites for the departed.