Antyeshthi Sanskaara (Full)

सूर्य चक्षुषागच्छ वातमात्मना दिवं च गच्छे पृथिवीं च धर्मभिः ।
अपो वा गच्छ यदि तत्र ते हितमोषधीषु प्रति तिष्ठ शरीर स्वाहा ॥

Soorya chakṣhushaa-gaccha vaatamaatmanaa
divam cha gacchhe prithiveem cha dharmabhih.
Apo vaa gacchha yadi tatra te hitamoṣhadheeṣhu
prati tiṣhṭhaa shareer svaahaa.¹

After death, the elements of the body go to their various sources, just like the light, which causes the eyes to see in its original form of light. The soul, however, will reincarnate in a life that suits the choice of our habits and actions during our previous lives. This can be as a part of humanity as a human or, in the plant kingdom, the animal kingdom, the aquatic regions, the dry regions, microscopic forms, or macroscopic forms. Whatever our actions during our lives will determine our next form of life.

सूर्यम्‌ sun,light चक्षुषा power of sight गच्छ go, possible, proceed वातम् air, atmosphere आत्मना soul दिवम् day च and पृथिवीम् earth धर्मभिः from righteous actions, righteous people अप: water वा and यदि if, suppose तत्र there ते yours हितम् interest, aim, welfare, reckoning, suitable ओषधीषु plants, shrubs, flora and fauna प्रति तिष्ठ get prestige, stay शरीरै: with human body, with organs

सोम एकैभ्यः पवते घृतमेक उपासते।
येभ्यो मधु प्रधावति तांश्चिदेवापि गच्छतात् स्वाहा ॥२॥

Soma ekaibhyah pavate ghritameka upaasate.
Yebhyo madhu pradhaavati taamsh-
chidevaapi gacchataat svaahaa.²

Some people gravitate to healthy foods, while others choose oils, spices, sweets, or other food choices. These choices go towards our health or ill health. Similarly, our choice of action determines the place or type of rebirth.

सोम: medicinal, healthy एकेभ्य: someone, some पवते get, use to cleanse घृतम् essence of ghee and oils एके one, some उपासते serve, worship, adore येभ्य: some मधु honey, sweet प्रधावति go to तान् they, to them चित् choice, as required एव only अपि also, too गच्छतात् go towards

ये चित्पूर्व ऋतसाता ऋतजाता ऋतावृधः ।
ऋषीन्तपस्वतो यम तपोजाँ अपि गच्छतात् स्वाहा ॥

Ye chitpoorva ritasaataa
ritajaataa ritaavridhaah.
Riṣheen-tapasvato yama tapojaam
api gacchhataat svaahaa.³

The divine law of the world dictates that we reincarnate to the form and way of life depending on how we have lived in our previous lives. The choices we make in life, the habits, the penances, the merits or evil that we do, determine where we are reborn, what circumstances we would be in, and the type and form of life we shall live when reincarnated. This is the law of the world.

ये those who चित् choice पूर्वे previous life ऋत truly, divine law ऋतसाता divine law ऋतजाता divine law of a place where ऋतावृधः divine logic of continuous ascension and growth ऋषीन् species तपस्वत: ascetic यम god, yamas, self-restraint तपोजाँ penances, choice of action in life अपि certainly गच्छतात् go, attain

तपसा ये अनाधृष्यास्तपसा ये स्वर्ययुः ।
तपो ये चक्रिरे महस्तांश्चदेवापि गच्छतात् स्वाहा ॥

Tapasaa ye anaadhriṣhyaas
tapasaa ye svaryayuh.
Tapo ye chakrire mahastaamsh
chadevaapi gacchhataat svaahaa.⁴

Those who focus on living a life of goodness and peace will obtain such a life in which continuous progress will be unstoppable. Like a wheel that revolves continuously, the actions we perform in life will undoubtedly affect the outcome of where and how we are reborn after death.

तपसा with focus and intent, penance ये those who अनाधृष्या: invincible, unstoppable, cannot be suppressed स्व: bliss ययु: gain, obtain तप: penance, focus and intent ये those who चक्रिरे doing, effecting, like a wheel मह: great तान् they, to them चित् thought, intent एव that अपि certainly गच्छतात् go, attain

ये युध्यन्ते प्रधनेषु शूरासो ये तनूत्यजः ।
ये वा सहस्रदक्षिणास्ताश्चिदेवापि गच्छतात् स्वाहा ॥

Ye yudhyante pradhaneṣhu
shooraaso ye tanutyaja.
Ye vaa sahasra-dakshinaas-taash
chidevaapi gacchhataat svaahaa.⁵

Those who are charitable and kind without seeking reward and those who are always ready to sacrifice their life to fight against oppression and evil will undoubtedly be born heroes and godly people. They will always be blessed to progress in their subsequent lives.

ये those who युध्यन्ते struggle against, fight against प्रधनेषु in such noble battles धूरास: hero, like gods, brave तनूऽत्यज: risk one’s life, ready to sacrifice one’s life वा and सहस्र thousands, countless, immeasurable दक्षिणा: gift, charity तान् they, to them चित् thought, intent एव that अपि certainly गच्छतात् go, attain

स्योनास्मै भव पृथिव्यनृक्षरा निवेशनी ।
यच्छास्मै शर्म सप्रथा स्वाहा ॥

Syonaasmai bhava prithivyan-riksharaa niveshanee.
Yachchhasmai sharma saprathaa svaahaa.⁶

May the earth continue to be the refuge and place for the next life. May there be no challenges or difficulties in the future birth. May there be lifelong prosperity, bliss, and happiness in the next life.

स्योना comfortable, happy अस्मै refuge, shelter, place भव be पृथिवि earth अनृक्षरा thornless, without difficulties and challenges निवेशनी accessible, attainable यच्छ give अस्मै place, shelter, refuge शर्म bliss, joy, prosperous सप्रथा extensive, shining far and wide

अपेमं जीवा अरुधन् गृहेभ्यस्तं निर्वहत परि ग्रामादितः ।
मृत्युर्यमस्यासीद्दूतः प्रचेता असून्पितृभ्यो गमयां चकार स्वाहा ॥

Apemam jeevaa arudhan
grihebhyastam nirvahata pari graamaaditah.
Mrityur-yamasya-aseedootah prachetaa
asoon-pritribhyo gamayaam chakaara svaahaa.⁷

Death brings an end to relationships in life. Those mindful of the laws of nature, as followed by their forefathers, will continue that noble and knowledgeable path by ensuring that the dead body is cremated to release the vital elements that comprise that body. The attendants, relatives, and friends all let go of their attachment to that person who has died.

अप certainly इमम् this जीवा: people, family अरुधन् brought to गृहेभ्य: householder life तम् for that person नि: guide, carry वहत travel, to that place, to there परि a defined place ग्रामात् place, village, community इत: this मृत्यु: death यमस्य end of life आसीत् is the, has happened दूत: envoy, afflicted प्रचेता: mindful, wise, knowledgeable असून् vital airs and elements of the body पितृभ्य: path of the ancestors, the ancient path known to the ancestors गमयाम् let go चकार attendants

यमः परोऽवरो विवस्वान्ततः परं नाति पश्यामि किंचन ।
यमे अध्वरो अधि मे निविष्टो भुवो विवस्वानन्वाततान स्वाहा ॥

Yamah paro’varo vivasvaan-tatah
param naati pashyaami kimchana.
Yame adhvaro adhi me niviṣhṭo
bhuvo vivasvaanan-vaatataan svaahaa.⁸

The universal laws of our Almighty God are extensive and continuous. From all times of the past to the infinite future, beyond what we can perceive, these laws govern our life, death, and rebirth in such places and forms as we deserve. Whatever the time and the level of our existence, these laws are unbreakable, unbendable, and infinite.

यम: laws, restraint पर: far, henceforth, future अवर: near, past, later, preceding विवस्वान् God, Brilliant luminous One, shining forth तत: that परम् ultimate, superior, grand न not अति passed, beyond, gone by पश्यामि see किंचन whatever else, attachment, object यमे of universal laws अध्वर: not crooked or broken, durable, intent अधि at मे our निविष्टो endowed with, begun, appointed, place भुव: earth, place of life विवस्वान् God, brilliant One अनुवाततान contiguous, extensive and continuous

अपागूहन्नमृतां मर्त्येभ्यः कृत्वा सवर्णामदधुर्विवस्वते ।
उताश्विनावभरद्यत्तदासीदजहादु द्वा मिथुना सरण्यूः स्वाहा ॥

Apaaguhann-amritam martyebhyah
Kritvaa savarṇaama-dadhur-vivasvate.
Uta-ashvinaav-abharad-yattad-aaseeda-jahaadu
dvaa mithunaa saraṇyooh svaahaa.⁹

Immortality is withheld from mere mortals in the cycle of birth and death. The enlightened ones readily renounce their attachment to the world, practice proper breathing, meditate on the immortal, all-pervading God, and hold that focus within. They can be free of the duality of life and death.

अपागूहन् concealed, hidden अमृताम् immortality मर्त्येभ्य: mortals कृत्वा having done, doing सवर्णाम् similar, equal to अदधु: following, be given to, bestow विवस्वते God, Brilliant luminous One, shining forth उत or, and अश्विनौ learned ones, pervading life force via breaths अभरत् wore, held within यत् that, this, whatever तत् that आसीत् was अजहात् renunciation ऊं and द्वा two मिथुना pair सरण्यू: protector, all-pervading

इमौ युनज्मिते असुनीताय वोढवे ।
ताभ्यां यमस्य सादनं समितिश्चाव गच्छतात्स्वाहा ॥

Imau yunajmi-te asuneetaaya voḍhave.
Taabhyaam yamasya saadanam
samitish-chaava gachchhtaat-svaahaa.¹⁰

Let us always remember and understand that the natural laws of God are always in place, and so, at death the subtle soul departs from the gross body. And, then, with rebirth, the elements of life come together with the soul to a new home, that is, a new body. And the rule of life and death continues through all time.

इमौ these two युनज्मि unite, join ते that, your, you वह्नी both असुनीताय subtle वोढवे to accomplish, to be carried on ताभ्याम् by those two यमस्य laws सदनम् attainable, dwelling, home समितीः rule of life, coming together च and अवगच्छतात् understand, attain, grasp

अग्नये रयिमते स्वाहा ॥

Agnaye rayimate svaahaa

The wealth of energy is now relinquished.

अग्नये energy रयिमते material wealth

पुरुषस्य सयावर्यपेदघानि मृज्महे ।
यथा नो अत्र नापर: पुरा जरस आयति स्वाहा ॥

Puruṣhasya sayaayape-daghaani mrij-mahe.
Yathaa no atra naaparah puraa jarasa aayati svaahaa.¹¹

The soul is associated with our sanskaaras, our choice of actions, during our lives. These actions, whether good or bad, affect the place and form of birth. Birth allows us to purify our lives, especially the stage before old age. Thus, we can avoid such a lifestyle that can be bad for our next journey, or we can live righteously and purify the sanskaaric impact on our souls.

पुरुष soul अस्य this, of this सयाव associated with, accompanying अपेत free from, removed from अघानि countless मृज्महे pure thoughts and acts यथा so, since न not अत्र here न no, not अपर: transgression, bad action पुरा before जरस old gai आयति appear, com

य एतस्य पथो गोप्तारस्तेभ्यः स्वाहा ॥

Ya etasya patho goptaaraste-bhyah svaahaa.

May the pathway to the rebirth of the soul be protected.

य एतस्यof this पथः path, road गोप्तार preserve, protect

य एतस्य पथो रक्षितारस्तेभ्यः स्वाहा ॥

Ya etasya patho rakshitaa-rastebhyah svaahaa.

May the pathway of this soul lead to protected reincarnation.

य एतस्य of this पथः path, road रक्षिता protect तेभ्यः of who

य एतस्य पथोऽभिरक्षितारस्तेभ्यः स्वाहा ॥

Ya etasya patho’bhi-rakshitaa-rastebhyah svaahaa.¹²

May the process of reincarnation be protected.

य एतस्य of this पथः path, road अभिरक्षिता preserved process तेभ्यः of who

ख्यात्रे स्वाहा ॥

Khyaatre svaahaa.

The need for fame and glory is gone.

ख्यात्रे glory, fame

अपाख्यात्रे स्वाहा ॥

Apakhyaatre svaahaa.

The risk of infamy or criticism is gone.

अपाख्यात्रे disgrace, infamy

अभिलालपते स्वाहा ॥

Abhilaalapate svaahaa.

The concern for good speech is gone.

अभिल distress, fear अलपते speech

अपलालपते स्वाहा ॥

Apalaalapate svaahaa.

The concern about avoiding bad speech is gone.

अपल bad, unfruitful अलपते speech

अग्नये कर्मकृते स्वाहा ॥

Angaye karmakrite svaahaa.

The need for action and activity is gone.

अग्नये energy, activity कर्मकृते performance of actions

यमत्र नाधीमस्तस्मै स्वाहा ॥

Yamatra na-adheemas-tasmai svaahaa.¹³

That what is not remembered matters no more.

यम् that अत्र here न not अधिमाः read, remembered तस्मै to him/her

अग्नये वैश्वानराय सुवर्गाय लोकाय स्वाहा ॥

Agnaye vaishvaanaraaya svargaaya lokaaya svaahaa.¹⁴

That active energy everywhere and in everyone is no longer in the dead body.

अग्नये sun, energy वैश्वानर whole world, everywhere सुवर्गाय space and atmosphere लोकाय everyone

आयातु देवः सुमनाभिरूतिभिर्यमो ह वेह प्रयताभिरक्ता ।
आसीदताꣳसुप्रयते ह बर्हिष्यूर्जाय जात्यै मम शत्रुहत्यै स्वाहा ॥

Aayaatu devah sumanaabhir-ootibhiryamo ha
veha prayataa-bhiraktaa.
Aaseedataam-suprayate ha barhiṣhy-oorjaaya
jaatyai mama shatru-hatyai svaahaa.¹⁵

The abundance of this world is gained through good actions and disciplined life. With positive efforts toward partaking in yagyas and slaying bad habits that lead us astray, we are blessed with life among the best of species, humanity.

आयातु abundance, spread over देवः God सुमनाभि favorable, good ऊतिभि enjoyable, good actions यमः restraint, disciplined life ह व is इह here, in this world प्रयत effort अक्त driven, spread over आसीदता preside, sit near सुप्रयते best efforts बर्हिष्य sacrificial wood/grass, yagyas ऊर्जाय invigorate जात्यै species मम my, our शत्रुहत्यै dispel enemies