Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 135

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

Devanagari script

पलाशस्य च वृन्तानां विभागं शृणु काश्यप / कृष्णाजिनं समास्तीर्य कुशैश्च पुरुषाकृतिम्

Transliteration

palāśasya ca vṛntānāṃ vibhāgaṃ śṛṇu kāśyapa / kṛṣṇājinaṃ samāstīrya kuśaiśca puruṣākṛtim

Translation

Hỡi Kāśyapa, hãy nghe cách sắp đặt đúng các cuống palāśa. Trải da linh dương đen ra, rồi dùng cỏ kuśa tạo thành hình người.

Word by Word

• पलाशस्य: of palāśa (Butea)
• पलाशस्य: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• वृन्तानाम्: of the stalks
• वृन्तानाम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विभागम्: division; distribution
• विभागम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• काश्यप: O Kāśyapa
• काश्यप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृष्णाजिनम्: a black hide (deerskin)
• कृष्णाजिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + अजिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• समास्तीर्य: having spread out
• समास्तीर्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√स्तृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• कुशैः: with kuśa grass
• कुशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• पुरुषाकृतिम्: a human-shaped figure
• पुरुषाकृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra; addressing him as Kāśyapa-lineage)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After sarpabali and before/within the puttalaka procedure; during the special rite sequence.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual embodiment through sanctioned materials: black antelope-skin as sacred base; kuśa as purifying medium; palāśa stalks arranged by rule.

Vedantic Theme: Form (ākṛti) as a ritual support (upādhi) for subtle intention; purity and efficacy depend on śāstric materials and method.

Application: Prepare the ritual base with kṛṣṇājina, then shape a human outline using kuśa; follow the specified palāśa-stalk arrangement taught by the authority.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.134 (puttalaka to be made); Garuda Purana 2.4.136 (stalk count and limb-wise placement)

Characters & Entities

• Kashyapa
• Kusha
• Palasha

FAQs

What is the importance of making a puruṣākṛti (human-shaped form) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse indicates a prescribed ritual substitute/form used in preta-related procedures, where a human-shaped arrangement (often for symbolic representation) is made with kuśa on a consecrated base.

How does this verse connect to the soul’s post-death journey described in the Garuda Purana?

Preta-kāṇḍa instructions emphasize correct rites and materials; such procedures are presented as supports for orderly transitions in the post-death state, aligning ritual action with dharmic guidance for the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing or sponsoring śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related rites, follow tradition carefully through qualified priests—this verse highlights that even materials and layout are treated as significant in dharmic observance.