Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 146

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

Devanagari script

मौक्तिकं स्तनयोर्मूर्ध्नि कुङ्कुमेव विलेपनम् / कर्पूरागुरुधूपैश्च शुभैर्माल्यैः सुगन्धिभिः

Transliteration

mauktikaṃ stanayormūrdhni kuṅkumeva vilepanam / karpūrāgurudhūpaiśca śubhairmālyaiḥ sugandhibhiḥ

Translation

以珍珠置于双乳之上，以藏红花（kunkuma）涂抹其首；复以樟脑与沉香（aguru）之吉祥香熏之，并以芬芳清净的圣花鬘庄严供奉其身。

Word by Word

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

• स्तनयोः: on the two breasts
• स्तनयोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (सन्दर्भतः सप्तमी—अधिकरण)

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

• कुङ्कुमम्: saffron/vermilion
• कुङ्कुमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण-निपात

• विलेपनम्: anointing/ointment
• विलेपनम्: Karma/Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + √लिप् (धातु) → विलेपन (कृदन्त; भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम (act of anointing)

• कर्पूरागुरुधूपैः: with camphor, agaru, and incense
• कर्पूरागुरुधूपैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक) + अगुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (कर्पूरं च अगुरु च धूपाश्च)

• च: and
• च: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-निपात

• शुभैः: auspicious
• शुभैः: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (माल्यैः)

• माल्यैः: with garlands
• माल्यैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• सुगन्धिभिः: fragrant
• सुगन्धिभिः: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुगन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (माल्यैः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious substances and fragrance are used to honor and sacralize—outer purity supporting inner devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Upacāra (devotional service) as a means to steady the mind; sattva-enhancing practices.

Application: In worship or rites, use clean, sattvic offerings; let external adornment remind one of inner purity and remembrance of Vishnu.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections on śrāddha/antyeṣṭi and auspicious materials (general internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of fragrant offerings (dhūpa, mālya) in the Garuda Purana’s death rituals?

This verse presents fragrance, incense, and garlands as auspicious acts of honor and purification during last rites, emphasizing respectful preparation of the body as part of antyeṣṭi.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

By prescribing careful, auspicious treatment of the body, the text frames death rites as dharmic supports that accompany the transition into the preta-state and the broader post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain dignity and cleanliness in funerary observances—use simple, sattvic offerings (fragrance, flowers) with sincere intention, focusing on respect, prayer, and adherence to family tradition.