Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

प्रयोगपूर्वं दाहस्य योग्यतादिर्यथा भवेत् / आंसनं प्राक्षण च स्यान्न स्यादेतच्चतुष्टयम्

Transliteration

prayogapūrvaṃ dāhasya yogyatādiryathā bhavet / āṃsanaṃ prākṣaṇa ca syānna syādetaccatuṣṭayam

Translation

Trước khi cử hành nghi lễ, phải xét cho rõ sự thích hợp và các điều kiện cần cho việc hỏa táng. Cần có sự sắp đặt đúng phép và việc rảy nước; thiếu những điều ấy thì bốn phần chuẩn bị này chưa trọn vẹn.

Word by Word

• प्रयोगपूर्वम्: before the procedure/rite
• प्रयोगपूर्वम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयोग + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन रूपेण अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative)

• दाहस्य: of the cremation/burning
• दाहस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाह (प्रातिपदिक; √दह् धातु, घञ्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• योग्यता-आदिः: fitness etc.
• योग्यता-आदिः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग्यता (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः: योग्यताया आदि: (yogyatā etc.)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/how)

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आंसनम्: (shoulder-)carrying/placing on the shoulder (rite)
• आंसनम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आंसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्राक्षणम्: sprinkling/washing (rite)
• प्राक्षणम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; प्र-√क्षल्/√क्षि? धात्वर्थे ‘washing/sprinkling’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चतुष्टयम्: group of four
• चतुष्टयम्: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Antyeṣṭi requires verified eligibility and complete preliminaries; omission renders the rite incomplete.

Vedantic Theme: Niyata-karma and saṃskāra as order-maintaining acts; attention to means (upāya) reflects reverence for dharma rather than mere sentiment.

Application: Before cremation, confirm readiness and perform the required preliminaries (proper placing/arrangement and sprinkling), ensuring the full set is completed without omission.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: funeral rite ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Adjacent antyeṣṭi procedural verses 2.4.42, 2.4.44–46 detailing components like invocation, piṇḍa, svadhā, dāna

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of verifying cremation fitness (yogyatā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that cremation is not done mechanically; one should first confirm the proper eligibility and required preliminaries, ensuring the rite is performed according to dharma and ritual order.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s guidance on death rituals?

It highlights the pre-ritual framework—proper preparation and purification steps (such as arranging and sprinkling)—which the Preta Kanda treats as essential for correct antyeṣṭi performance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow an orderly, respectful funeral protocol: consult a competent priest, verify customary prerequisites, and complete basic preparatory and purification actions before proceeding with cremation.