Shloka 131

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

विधिज्ञास्तर्पणं कुर्युर्न पात्रे तु कदाचन / यदपां क्रूरमांसात्तु यदमेध्यं तु किञ्चन

Transliteration

vidhijñāstarpaṇaṃ kuryurna pātre tu kadācana / yadapāṃ krūramāṃsāttu yadamedhyaṃ tu kiñcana

Translation

Die Kundigen der rechten Vorschrift sollen tarpaṇa vollziehen, doch niemals in einem ungeeigneten Gefäß; ebenso wenig mit Wasser, das durch Berührung mit rohem Fleisch oder durch irgendeine Unreinheit verunreinigt wurde.

Word by Word

• विधिज्ञाः: those who know the rule
• विधिज्ञाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विधिं जानन्ति)

• तर्पणम्: libation/oblatory satisfaction rite
• तर्पणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कुर्युः: should do
• कुर्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• पात्रे: in a vessel
• पात्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अनुयोग (but/indeed)

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (ever/at any time)

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (that which)

• अपाम्: of waters
• अपाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रयोग), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• क्रूरमांसात्: from cruel meat
• क्रूरमांसात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रूर + मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (क्रूरं मांसम् = cruel/fierce meat)

• तु: and/but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/विरोध (and/but)

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (that which)

• अमेध्यम्: impure/unclean
• अमेध्यम्: Karta (Subject complement/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमेध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• किञ्चन: anything
• किञ्चन: Adverbial/Indefinite (अनिश्चित)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चन (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्यय; अनिश्चित-परिमाण (any/something; indefinite particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During tarpaṇa/śrāddha performance (general rule)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adhikāra and śauca: only those who know the rite should perform tarpaṇa, and never with unfit vessels or polluted water; purity safeguards the rite’s truthfulness.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva as prerequisite for subtle ritual communication; discipline of means (upāya-śuddhi) conditions results.

Application: Use clean, appropriate vessels; ensure water is uncontaminated; avoid performing rites in contexts involving impurity (e.g., contact with raw meat).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: ritual site (tarpaṇa setting)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.128-130 (tarpaṇa sequence and conduct)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity in Garuda Purana tarpaṇa?

This verse stresses that tarpaṇa must be done with a proper vessel and uncontaminated water; impurity (amedhya) invalidates the sanctity of offerings meant for the Pitṛs.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and śrāddha?

Tarpaṇa is a core component of śrāddha; the verse gives a technical purity rule—avoid unfit utensils and water tainted by impure substances—so the ancestral rite remains dharmically effective.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

For śrāddha/tarpaṇa, use clean dedicated vessels and fresh, uncontaminated water; keep ritual items separate from kitchens handling meat/impure contact to maintain prescribed purity.