Shloka 26

Devotpatti-nirūpaṇa — Hari’s Pūrṇatva

Completeness) and the Ritual Doctrine of Sāra (Essence

Devanagari script

त्रिपक्षानन्तरं वीन्द्र तैलपक्वं तथा स्मृतम् / चतुर्यामानन्तरं च त्वसारं घृतपक्वकम्

Transliteration

tripakṣānantaraṃ vīndra tailapakvaṃ tathā smṛtam / caturyāmānantaraṃ ca tvasāraṃ ghṛtapakvakam

Translation

يا سيّد الطيور (غارودا)، تُورِدُ المأثورات أنه بعد ثلاث فتراتٍ نصف شهرية يصير كأنه «مطبوخ بالزيت»؛ وبعد أربع ياماتٍ يغدو واهنًا بلا قوام، كأنه «مطبوخ بالسمن المصفّى (غِهْرِتا)».

Word by Word

• त्रिपक्षानन्तरम्: after three fortnights
• त्रिपक्षानन्तरम्: अधिकरण (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि + पक्ष + अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक; तत्पुरुष-समास (त्रयः पक्षाः तेषाम् अनन्तरम्)

• वीन्द्र: O king
• वीन्द्र: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• तैलपक्वम्: cooked in oil
• तैलपक्वम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तैल + पक्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (तैलेन पक्वम् / cooked in oil)

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/रीति-वाचक

• स्मृतम्: is considered/remembered (as)
• स्मृतम्: क्रिया (Predicate; passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चतुर्यामानन्तरम्: after four yāmas
• चतुर्यामानन्तरम्: अधिकरण (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर् + याम + अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक; तत्पुरुष (चत्वारः यामाः तेषाम् अनन्तरम्)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक (adversative/emphatic particle)

• असारम्: essenceless/without potency
• असारम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• घृतपक्वकम्: ghee-cooked preparation
• घृतपक्वकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत + पक्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (घृतेन पक्वकम् / ghee-cooked item)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Tri-pakṣa and catur-yāma thresholds for judging food fitness

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla transforms substances; after set periods, foods are deemed altered/insubstantial and thus unfit for intended sacred use.

Vedantic Theme: Kāla as agent of pariṇāma (transformation) in prakṛti; reliance on śāstra to navigate change.

Application: Observe time-limits for oil/ghee preparations in ritual contexts; do not presume preserved richness equals ritual fitness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.14.25–29 (sequence on time-based loss of sāra in various items).

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Vīndra)

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual timing in the Garuda Purana according to this verse?

This verse emphasizes that offerings and their efficacy are linked to specific time-intervals; it marks traditional thresholds (three fortnights and four yāmas) after which the offering is described as changing in status/essence.

How does this verse relate to the Preta journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda framework, the deceased’s post-death condition is supported through prescribed rites; this verse fits that system by defining time-based stages when offerings are considered transformed, reinforcing the idea of an ordered, time-governed after-death regimen.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow funeral and śrāddha procedures with attention to the prescribed schedule and consult a qualified priest/tradition for correct timing, rather than treating rites as random or purely symbolic.