Shloka 11

Devotpatti-nirūpaṇa — Hari’s Pūrṇatva

Completeness) and the Ritual Doctrine of Sāra (Essence

Devanagari script

निषिद्धान्सर्वशाकस्य सारांस्तथा निपिद्धाल्लांवणस्वापि सारान् / गृह्णाति विष्णुः परमादरेण अन्नस्य सारं भक्ष्यभोज्यस्य सारम्

Transliteration

niṣiddhānsarvaśākasya sārāṃstathā nipiddhāllāṃvaṇasvāpi sārān / gṛhṇāti viṣṇuḥ paramādareṇa annasya sāraṃ bhakṣyabhojyasya sāram

Translation

إنَّ فيشنو، بأعظم توقير، يتقبّل الجوهر اللطيف للطعام—أي جوهر ما يُؤكَل ويُشرَب—حتى من الخُضَر والأشياء المالحة المنهيّ عنها أيضًا.

Word by Word

• निषिद्धान्: forbidden
• निषिद्धान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निषिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• सर्वशाकस्य: of all vegetables/greens
• सर्वशाकस्य: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (sarvaṃ śākam)

• सारान्: essences
• सारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘likewise’

• निषिद्धात्: from the forbidden (items)
• निषिद्धात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निषिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; ‘from (what is) forbidden’

• लवणस्य: of salt
• लवणस्य: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) ‘also/even’

• सारान्: essences
• सारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• गृह्णाति: takes/accepts
• गृह्णाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• परमादरेण: with great reverence
• परमादरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (paramaḥ ādaraḥ)

• अन्नस्य: of food
• अन्नस्य: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• सारम्: essence
• सारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• भक्ष्यभोज्यस्य: of eatables and foods
• भक्ष्यभोज्यस्य: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य + भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (bhakṣyaṃ ca bhojyaṃ ca)

• सारम्: essence
• सारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During shraddha feeding/naivedya where questions of food suitability arise.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord receives the subtle essence of offerings; devotional intent and the ‘sāra’ matter more than the gross form, even when items are ordinarily restricted.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryami/Ishvara as inner enjoyer (bhokta) of offerings; subtlety over grossness; grace overriding limitation when devotion is present.

Application: Do not become cynical or despairing over imperfections; prioritize sincerity, purity of intent, and adherence to rules where possible, trusting the Lord’s grace.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/offerings space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.14.10, 3.14.12-14 (catalog of ‘sāra’ accepted by Vishnu)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘sāra’ (essence) of food in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that beyond the gross act of eating, there is a subtle ‘essence’ (sāra) of food; Vishnu is said to receive that essence, highlighting the spiritual dimension of diet and purity.

Does this verse mean forbidden foods are acceptable since Vishnu takes their essence?

No; the verse underscores Vishnu’s supremacy over the subtle essence, not a license to ignore prohibitions—dietary rules remain part of dharma and ritual purity in this context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat food as sacred: choose sattvic, ethically obtained भोजन, and maintain discipline in dietary vows—especially during rites, fasting days, or ancestral observances.