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Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 158

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

Devanagari script

शुद्धिं सम्पाद्य कर्तव्यं दहनाद्यौर्ध्वदेहिकम् / अकृत्वा निष्कृतिं यस्तु कुरुते दहनादिकम्

Transliteration

śuddhiṃ sampādya kartavyaṃ dahanādyaurdhvadehikam / akṛtvā niṣkṛtiṃ yastu kurute dahanādikam

Translation

Trước hết phải hoàn thành sự thanh tịnh nghi lễ, rồi mới nên cử hành các nghi thức hậu sự bắt đầu từ hỏa táng. Còn ai làm hỏa táng và các việc tương tự mà không thực hiện trước các pháp sám hối (niṣkṛti) theo quy định, thì là làm trái phép.

Word by Word
शुद्धिम्purification
शुद्धिम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootशुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object of 'सम्पाद्य'
सम्पाद्यhaving obtained/accomplished
सम्पाद्य:
Purvakala (Prior action)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसम्+पद्/सम्+पादय् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): having accomplished/obtained
कर्तव्यम्should be done
कर्तव्यम्:
Kriya (Obligation predicate)
TypeAdjective
Rootकृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
Formकर्तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicative: 'is to be done'
दहनादिcremation and the like
दहनादि:
Karta (Subject of predicate)
TypeNoun
Rootदहन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'दहनम्' + 'आदि' = cremation etc. (समाहार)
और्ध्वदेहिकम्pertaining to post-death rites
और्ध्वदेहिकम्:
Karta (Subject-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootऔर्ध्वदेहिक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies 'दहनादि' (post-funeral rite)
अकृत्वाwithout doing
अकृत्वा:
Purvakala (Prior action negated)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formनञ्-पूर्वक-क्त्वान्त-अव्यय: 'कृत्वा' with negation; without doing
निष्कृतिम्expiation/atonement
निष्कृतिम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootनिष्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of 'अकृत्वा' (what is not done)
यःwho
यः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; relative pronoun, subject of 'कुरुते'
तुbut/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle)
कुरुतेdoes/performs
कुरुते:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद
दहनादिकम्cremation etc.
दहनादिकम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदहन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of 'कुरुते'
Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after death, prior to and during ūrdhva-dehika sequence beginning with cremation

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual sequence matters: first śuddhi/niṣkṛti (purification/expiation), then cremation and subsequent post-death rites.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra (fitness) for karma-kāṇḍa: rites bear fruit only when performed by a qualified, purified agent in correct order.

Application: After a death, follow prescribed purification and expiation before handling cremation and related rites; consult tradition/ācārya for local śākhā rules.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/cremation setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.159-161 (enumeration of niṣkṛti and graded penances); Garuda Purana śrāddha/antyeṣṭi instructions in the same adhyāya

Characters & Entities
G
Garuda
P
Preta
P
Pitris

FAQs

This verse states that funeral rites beginning with cremation should be performed only after establishing śuddhi; otherwise the act is considered improperly done.

Niṣkṛti refers to prescribed corrective/atonement measures that restore ritual fitness; the verse warns against proceeding to cremation without completing such required expiation.

Treat last rites as disciplined dharma: follow competent guidance, observe cleanliness and prescribed preliminaries, and avoid rushing major rituals without the required preparatory steps.

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