Shukla Yajurved - Chapter 39 - Simple Explanation based on Swami Dayananda's Bhashya

CHAPTER XXXIX

1. Swaha (Swaha: The sacrificial exclamation on making an offering in homam) to the vital breathings with their controlling lord, the  soul.

To earth Swaha  To earth ! To Agni! To Firmament! To Vayu ! To Sky ! To Surya !

2. Swaha To the Quarters ! To the Moon  ! To the Stars  ! To the Waters  To the Ocean  ! To the Navel ! To the Purifying light !

3. Swaha To Speech ! To Breath ! To Dhananjaya Vayu ! To the right eye ! To the left eye ! To the right ear !To the left ear!

4. I should obtain the wish and purpose of the mind. I pray to God to bestow on me beauty, fame and
grace, through truthful speech and virtuous conduct.

5. Worship great souls or paramatmas Prajapati, (the nourisher of men); Samrat, (filled with
lustre); Vaishvadeva (Connected with all meterial objects); Dharma, (full of brilliance); Teja (light); Ashwin (connected with Pran and Apan);  Paushan (the light connected with the Earth); Maruta (the light connected with man's body);  Maitra (connected with friendly Pran) Vayavya (full of velocity Uke air); Agneya (burning lustrous like fire), Vak (one that commands and gives orders).

6. After death, the soul goes to the Sun on the first day ; to Agni on the second ; to Vayu on the third; to Aditya on the fourth; to Chandrama (the moon) on the fifth ; to Ritu on the sixth ; to Maruts
on the seventh ; to Brihaspati on the eighth ; to Mitra on the ninth ; to Varuna on the tenth ; to Indra on the eleventh ; to all divine, noble traits on the twelfth. The soul roams after death, through different regions, for twelve days, before it takes its birth, being washed of its impurities.

7. The soul after death, according to its actions becomes fierce and calm ; terrible and fearless ; ignorant and enlightened ; trembling and steadfast ; forbearing and unforbeating ; passionate and ascetic ; and a prey to bewilderment.

8. The souls after death go to fire; to -lightning ; to Pashupati(the sustainer of the universe); to Bhava (The Omnipresent God); To Sharva (The Omniscient God) ; to Eeshana; to Mahadeva; to the Fierce God

9. Souls become lovely through virtuous deeds and chastisable through ignoble deeds.   They become noble through spiritual force.

10. All the parts of dead body have to be burned properly.Each part is pointed out in the hymn

11. One has to take nourishing diet for physical exertion, for adventure, for concerted effort, for proper functioning of different organs, for physical and mental health, for healthy soul that can do its job, for coming out with nice ideas, and for spiritual power.

12. Do your religious duty. Help the advancement of the men of penance and the Brahmcharis devoted to study. Try hard to avoid sins and do penance for them. Take care to avoid physical ailments and get cured of them through medicine.

13. Honour the just ruler. Keep away Death the great Finisher. Worship God the destroyer of the wicked. Try to preserve Vedic knowledge. Respect and honour all learned persons. Utilise all the forces and useful things of nature. Acquire the knowledge of all things in  Heaven and Earth.


In this chapter there is an explanation regarding the movement of the soul after the death and also how the dead body is to be cremated.