Shloka 11

Vrata-Niyama: Fasting Purity, Brahmakūrcha, Naktāhāra, and Kāla-Nirṇaya

Ritual Timing

Devanagari script

क्षीरं सप्तपलं दद्याद्दध्नश्चैव पलत्रयम् / घृतमेकफलं दद्यात्पलमेकं कुशोदकम्

Transliteration

kṣīraṃ saptapalaṃ dadyāddadhnaścaiva palatrayam / ghṛtamekaphalaṃ dadyātpalamekaṃ kuśodakam

Translation

Man soll sieben palas Milch darbringen, drei palas Dickmilch, ein pala Ghee und ein pala Wasser, das mit Kuśa-Gras geweiht ist (kuśodaka).

Word by Word

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सप्तपलम्: seven palas
• सप्तपलम्: Karma (Measure/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तपल (प्रातिपदिक: सप्त + पल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• दद्याद्: should give
• दद्याद्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• दध्नः: of curd
• दध्नः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थ (emphasis)

• पलत्रयम्: three palas
• पलत्रयम्: Karma (Measure/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलत्रय (प्रातिपदिक: पल + त्रय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• एकफलम्: one phala (a measure)
• एकफलम्: Karma (Measure/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकफल (प्रातिपदिक: एक + फल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• पलम्: one pala
• पलम्: Karma (Measure/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) पलस्य

• कुशोदकम्: water with kuśa-grass
• कुशोदकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशोदक (प्रातिपदिक: कुश + उदक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāyaścitta/dāna is specified by exact measures; purity is enacted through disciplined giving of milk, curd, ghee, and kuśa-sanitized water.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as śuddhi-sādhana: regulated action and offering refine the doer’s intention and restore harmony after fault.

Application: When performing the prescribed expiation/ritual giving, follow the stated quantities: 7 palas milk, 3 palas curd, 1 pala ghee, 1 pala kuśodaka (water sanctified with kuśa).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.128.10 (context of expiation); Garuda Purana 1.128.12 (mantra-based vrata continuation)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering milk, curd, ghee, and kuśa-water in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes specific ritual substances and measured quantities for śrāddha-related offerings, emphasizing disciplined, rule-based giving (dāna/arpana) as part of funerary observance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by detailing correct post-death ritual provisions, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that proper rites and offerings aid the departed’s transition and well-being in the post-mortem journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow tradition with clarity and sincerity—use pure ingredients, maintain ritual cleanliness (especially sanctified water), and consult a competent priest/tradition for correct measures and procedure.