Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

वस्त्रयज्ञोपवीतानि पृथङ्मुद्रापराणि च / जपं कर्यात्पृथक्तत्र ब्रह्मादौ देवतासु च

Transliteration

vastrayajñopavītāni pṛthaṅmudrāparāṇi ca / japaṃ karyātpṛthaktatra brahmādau devatāsu ca

Translation

应将衣布与圣线（yajñopavīta，祭祀圣绳）分别置放，诸手印（mudrā）亦各自分明；于此仪轨中，当分别行持念诵（japa），依次礼敬梵天（Brahmā）及诸天众神，各安其序。

Word by Word

• वस्त्रयज्ञोपवीतानि: cloths and sacred threads
• वस्त्रयज्ञोपवीतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञोपवीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (वस्त्राणि च यज्ञोपवीतानि च), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: भेदवाचक-अव्यय (separately)

• मुद्रापराणि: with distinct mudrās/gestures
• मुद्रापराणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मुद्रायां पराणि/मुद्रापराणि = devoted to mudrā), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; विशेषण (to वस्त्रयज्ञोपवीतानि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• जपम्: recitation (japa)
• जपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन

• कर्यात्: should do/perform
• कर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: भेदवाचक-अव्यय (separately)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (there/in that context)

• ब्रह्मादौ: among (the set) beginning with Brahmā
• ब्रह्मादौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मा आदिः यस्मिन्/ब्रह्मादौ = beginning with Brahmā), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• देवतासु: in/among the deities
• देवतासु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Within a devatā-oriented śrāddha/rite sequence (contextual; before water offerings and later dāna).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness through separation (pṛthak) and proper sequencing of deity-invocation.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kanda discipline as a purifier of mind (citta-shuddhi) supporting higher pursuit.

Application: In multi-deity rites, keep materials and gestures distinct; do japa addressed to each deity separately in prescribed order to avoid saṅkara (mixing).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (griha/mandapa/vedi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.40 (Shraddha/Devatarchana procedural sequence); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: emphasis on vidhi in rites for post-death benefit

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of performing japa separately for each deity in the Garuda Purana?

This verse instructs that mantra-repetition should be done distinctly for Brahmā and the other deities, preserving proper order and specificity so the rite remains correctly directed and effective.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals (Preta Kanda)?

In the Preta Kanda’s ritual framework, precision in items (cloth, yajñopavīta), mudrās, and deity-wise japa supports the prescribed observances associated with post-death rites and dharmic procedure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When doing any traditional japa/pujā, keep ritual items and steps organized and perform mantras with clear intention and proper sequencing rather than mixing procedures indiscriminately.