Shloka 31

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

स्यादन्नं वार्षिकं यस्य कुर्यात्प्रकसौमिकीं क्रियाम् / प्रतिसंवत्सरं सोमः पशुः प्रत्ययनं तथा

Transliteration

syādannaṃ vārṣikaṃ yasya kuryātprakasaumikīṃ kriyām / pratisaṃvatsaraṃ somaḥ paśuḥ pratyayanaṃ tathā

Translation

من كان لديه ما يكفي لتقديم قربان الطعام السنوي فليقم بشعيرة السَّومِكَة (Saumika) كما هو مقرر؛ وفي كل سنة تكون كذلك تقدمة السُّوما، وتقدمة الذبيحة الحيوانية، وشعيرة البرَتيَايَنَة (pratyayana) للتثبيت والتجديد.

Word by Word

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• वार्षिकम्: annual (for a year)
• वार्षिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वार्षिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); ‘अन्न’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• यस्य: of whom, whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• प्रक-सौमिकीम्: Soma-related (Praka-saumiki)
• प्रक-सौमिकीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रक + सौमिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘क्रिया’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• क्रियाम्: rite, ritual act
• क्रियाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रति-संवत्सरम्: every year
• प्रति-संवत्सरम्: Kala-adhikarana (Temporal locus/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; कालवाचक अव्यय (indeclinable adverb of time)

• सोमः: Soma
• सोमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पशुः: sacrificial animal
• पशुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रत्ययनम्: confirmation/assurance (rite/requirement)
• प्रत्ययनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (indeclinable: likewise/also)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nitya/naimittika continuity—those with means should perform prescribed Saumika and associated annual offerings (Soma, paśu, pratyayana).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga groundwork—orderly performance of duty purifies the mind (citta-śuddhi) and sustains ṛta in society.

Application: If undertaking formal vows/ceremonies, commit to consistent follow-through; align resources, calendar, and qualified guidance to avoid broken observances.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (sequence of yajña-vidhis and eligibility gradations)

Characters & Entities

• Soma

FAQs

What is the importance of annual rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that if one has the capacity, yearly food-offerings and prescribed annual observances should be performed regularly as part of pitṛ-karmas (ancestral duties).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stressing recurring śrāddha-style offerings, it implies that the departed are supported through ongoing ritual duty, which is presented in the Garuda Purana as beneficial to post-death welfare and ancestral satisfaction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain consistent annual remembrance and charity/food-giving in the name of ancestors (within one’s means), treating it as a disciplined dharmic obligation rather than an occasional act.