Shloka 17

Vināyaka-pīḍā: Omens, Purification, Crossroads Offerings, and Ambikā Svastyayana

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणान् भोजयेत्पश्चाच्छुक्लवस्त्रानुलेपनैः / वस्त्रयुग्मङ्गुरोर्दद्यासंपूज्य च ग्रहांस्तथा / श्रेयः कर्मफलं विन्द्यात्सूर्यार्चनरतस्तथा

Transliteration

brāhmaṇān bhojayetpaścācchuklavastrānulepanaiḥ / vastrayugmaṅgurordadyāsaṃpūjya ca grahāṃstathā / śreyaḥ karmaphalaṃ vindyātsūryārcanaratastathā

Translation

ثم بعد ذلك يُطعِمُ البراهمة، مُقدِّمًا لهم ثيابًا بيضاء وأدهانًا عِطْرة. ويُهدي إلى مُعلِّمه (الغورو) زوجًا من الثياب، ويعبد كذلك الكواكب التسعة (الغراها). وهكذا فإن المولَع بعبادة سُوريا ينالُ ثوابًا مباركًا—الثمرة النافعة للعمل.

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇān: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• bhojayet: should feed
• bhojayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु) [णिच् causative: भोजय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of sequence)

• śukla: white
• śukla: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (समासस्थ-पूर्वपदत्वेन)

• vastra: cloth/garments
• vastra: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (समासस्थ-पूर्वपदत्वेन)

• anulepanaiḥ: with unguents/anointments
• anulepanaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anulepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• vastra: cloth
• vastra: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (stem in compound), एकवचन (समासस्थ-पूर्वपद)

• yugmam: a pair (of garments)
• yugmam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yugma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; समास: वस्त्र-युग्मम् (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-भाव: ‘pair of cloths’)

• guroḥ: of the teacher (guru)
• guroḥ: Sampradāna/Adhikāra (Recipient-related/सम्प्रदान-संबन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• saṃpūjya: having duly worshipped
• saṃpūjya: Kriya-anuvṛtti (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ + pūj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund) अव्ययभाव; ‘सम्पूज्य’ = having duly worshipped

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• grahān: the planets
• grahān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• tathā: likewise/thus
• tathā: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• śreyaḥ: welfare/benefit
• śreyaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• karma: action
• karma: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (stem in compound), एकवचन (समासस्थ-पूर्वपद)

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; समास: कर्म-फलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘fruit of action’)

• vindyāt: should obtain
• vindyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• sūrya: of the Sun
• sūrya: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-पूर्वपद (in compound)

• arcana: worship
• arcana: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcana (प्रातिपदिक) [from √arc (धातु)]
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासस्थ-पूर्वपद (in compound)

• rataḥ: engaged/devoted
• rataḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समास: सूर्य-अर्चन-रतः (तत्पुरुष: ‘engaged in Sun-worship’)

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसंहार/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dana (feeding Brahmanas), guru-seva, and graha-puja as dharmic supports to Surya-archana yielding shreyas (auspicious merit).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: sanctifying action through right intention, reverence, and offering; merit as a purifier supporting sattva.

Application: After worship, perform annadana; offer clean white cloth/unguent; honor one’s teacher; include navagraha-shanti as a harmonizing adjunct to daily/periodic Surya worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (griha/mandapa/temple precinct)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.101.1-4 (graha-yajna and navagraha enumeration; ritual materials/colors)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Guru
• Sūrya
• Navagrahas (Grahas)

FAQs

What is the importance of feeding Brāhmaṇas in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse presents feeding Brāhmaṇas (with respectful gifts like white cloth and unguents) as a key concluding act that seals the rite and generates śreyas—auspicious merit (karma-phala).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes śreyas and karma-phala gained through disciplined worship and charity, implying that righteous actions and ritual completeness support favorable outcomes beyond this life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Complete worship with ethical giving: offer food charitably, honor one’s teacher/elders with appropriate support, and practice balanced devotion (e.g., Sūrya and graha remembrance) as a disciplined dharmic routine.