Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 101

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

Devanagari script

दहनस्य विधिः प्रोक्तः सामान्येन मया खग / विशेषमपि तस्यास्य कञ्चित्किं श्रोतुमिच्छति

Transliteration

dahanasya vidhiḥ proktaḥ sāmānyena mayā khaga / viśeṣamapi tasyāsya kañcitkiṃ śrotumicchati

Translation

Hỡi loài chim (Garuda), ta đã giải thích quy trình hỏa táng một cách tổng quát. Ngươi có muốn nghe thêm bất kỳ chi tiết cụ thể nào về nó nữa không?

Word by Word

• दहनस्य: of cremation/burning
• दहनस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• विधिः: procedure/rule
• विधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• प्रोक्तः: has been stated
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (विधिः इति विशेष्य)

• सामान्येन: in a general way
• सामान्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• खग: O bird (Garuda)
• खग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विशेषम्: a particular detail
• विशेषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Modifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (also)

• तस्य: of that (procedure)
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• कञ्चित्: some (particular)
• कञ्चित्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुं/नपुं, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (अनिश्चित: some/any)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (प्रश्नार्थ)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• इच्छति: desires/wishes
• इच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Transition from general cremation procedure to invitation for specific details; emphasizes structured transmission of saṃskāra-knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa and systematic instruction within dharma; right action grounded in right understanding.

Application: Seek clarity on ritual/ethical procedures rather than acting on assumptions; ask for specifics when stakes are high (death rites, duties).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue setting (teacher-disciple)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.97-100 (context leading into cremation rules); Subsequent verses in 2.4 (expected: detailed antyeṣṭi/cremation procedure)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the cremation procedure (dahana-vidhi) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames cremation as a regulated rite with both general rules and finer details, emphasizing that proper antyeṣṭi is to be learned carefully rather than performed casually.

How does this verse fit into the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue about the after-death journey?

Vishnu signals a transition from a broad outline to more technical instructions, showing that correct funeral rites are foundational before discussing the preta’s onward condition and related observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat last rites as a disciplined, well-instructed practice—seek qualified guidance, follow the essential steps faithfully, and avoid improvisation in sensitive funeral rituals.