Shloka 15

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

कृष्णाग्रे कारयेद्विप्र बलिं नारायणाह्वयम् / प्रेताय तर्पणं कार्यं मन्त्रैः पौराणवैदिकैः

Transliteration

kṛṣṇāgre kārayedvipra baliṃ nārāyaṇāhvayam / pretāya tarpaṇaṃ kāryaṃ mantraiḥ paurāṇavaidikaiḥ

Translation

婆罗门啊，当在黑天（Kṛṣṇa）之前，奉献巴利供（bali），并称念那罗延（Nārāyaṇa）之名；又当以出自《往世书》与《吠陀》的真言，为亡灵（preta）行塔尔帕那（tarpaṇa）之奠水。

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇāgre: in front of Krishna
• kṛṣṇāgre: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇāgra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• kārayet: should cause to be done/perform
• kārayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Causative (Nich), Optative (Vidhilin), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• vipra: O Brahmin
• vipra: Sambodhya (Addressee/सम्बोधित)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• balim: offering
• balim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nārāyaṇāhvayam: named Narayana
• nārāyaṇāhvayam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nārāyaṇāhvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular. (nārāyaṇaḥ āhvayaḥ yasya)

• pretāya: for the deceased/spirit
• pretāya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• tarpaṇam: libation/offering water
• tarpaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• kāryam: to be done
• kāryam: Visheshana/Kriya
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (Nyat Pratyaya), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• mantraiḥ: with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• paurāṇavaidikaiḥ: Puranic and Vedic
• paurāṇavaidikaiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paurāṇavaidika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Offerings and tarpaṇa become spiritually efficacious when dedicated to Nārāyaṇa in the deity’s presence; scriptural harmony of Purāṇic and Vedic mantras.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-arpana (offering to the Lord) purifies karma; bhakti integrates ritual (karma-kāṇḍa) with devotion, supporting inner purification.

Application: Perform bali and preta-tarpaṇa before a Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa shrine, explicitly dedicating acts to Nārāyaṇa; use authorized mantras from Veda and Purāṇa per tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/home-shrine

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Vaiṣṇava framing of śrāddha; instructions on bali, tarpaṇa, and mantra usage for preta

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Nārāyaṇa
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of tarpaṇa for the preta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that tarpaṇa should be performed specifically for the preta, indicating it is a necessary rite meant to satisfy and support the departed in the interim post-death condition.

Why does the verse mention offering a bali invoking Nārāyaṇa in the presence of Kṛṣṇa?

It frames the rite as a Vaiṣṇava-centered offering: the bali is made with Nārāyaṇa-invocation, and performed before Kṛṣṇa, emphasizing divine sanction and devotional alignment in post-death ritual acts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha-related observances, keep the intent devotional and precise: make offerings with reverence to Nārāyaṇa/Vishnu and perform tarpaṇa for the departed using authorized mantra traditions under competent guidance.