Shloka 15
Śrāddha Vidhi (Pārvaṇa-Śrāddha): Invitations, Arghya, Protective Rites, Piṇḍa Offering, Dakṣiṇā, and Visarjana
पात्रमुद्रादि निधाय कुशं दत्त्वा अधोमुखाभ्यां पाणिभ्यां पात्रं गृहीत्वा ॐ पृथिवीते पात्रं द्यौरपिधानं ब्राह्मणस्य मुखे अमृते अमृतं जुहोमि स्वाहा पात्राभिमन्त्रणम् / इदं विष्णुर्विचक्रमे त्रेधा निदधे पदम् / समूढमस्य पांसुरे / विष्णो हव्यंरक्षस्व इत्यन्नमध्ये अधोमुखद्विजाङ्गुष्ठनिवेशनम्
pātramudrādi nidhāya kuśaṃ dattvā adhomukhābhyāṃ pāṇibhyāṃ pātraṃ gṛhītvā oṃ pṛthivīte pātraṃ dyaurapidhānaṃ brāhmaṇasya mukhe amṛte amṛtaṃ juhomi svāhā pātrābhimantraṇam / idaṃ viṣṇurvicakrame tredhā nidadhe padam / samūḍhamasya pāṃsure / viṣṇo havyaṃrakṣasva ityannamadhye adhomukhadvijāṅguṣṭhaniveśanam
Nachdem man die rituellen Handzeichen angeordnet und einen Halm Kuśa-Gras platziert hat, sollte man das Gefäß mit beiden nach unten gerichteten Händen nehmen. Dann rezitiert man: „Oṁ – Die Erde ist dein Gefäß; der Himmel ist seine Abdeckung; im Mund des Brāhmaṇa – im Unsterblichen – opfere ich in das Unsterbliche; svāhā“, und weiht so das Gefäß. Dann rezitiert man: „Dieser Viṣṇu schritt aus; in drei Schritten setzte er seinen Fuß nieder – sein höchster Schritt ist im Staub verborgen“, und „O Viṣṇu, beschütze das Opfer“, und sollte den nach unten gerichteten Daumen in die Mitte der Speise legen.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra on ritual procedure)
Ritual Type: Parvana
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: During pātra-śuddhi and anna-saṃskāra within śrāddha sequence
Concept: All offerings are protected and pervaded by Viṣṇu; ritual objects become sacred through mantra and right handling.
Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmitva and vyāpti: Viṣṇu as the all-pervading ground of ritual efficacy; nāma-mantra as a purifier of action.
Application: Consecrate vessels with mantra before use; maintain correct hand orientation and mudrā; invoke Viṣṇu’s protection over food offered in śrāddha.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: ritual implement (pātra) and officiant’s presence
Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha passages using ‘pṛthivī te pātram…’ and ‘idaṃ viṣṇuḥ vicakrame…’ as standard consecrations; ‘viṣṇo havyaṃ rakṣasva’ protective refrain
FAQs
This verse shows that offerings are not merely physical food; the vessel and the offering are ritually sacralized through specific mantras, aligning the act with cosmic order (Earth as vessel, Heaven as cover) and making the offering fit for sacred use.
Although the verse is procedural, it supports the broader Garuda Purana ritual framework: purity and correct mantra-recitation ensure that offerings (anna/havya) become spiritually effective, which is essential in śrāddha and related observances.
Treat ritual acts with clarity and intention: keep vessels clean, follow a consistent method, and recite a short consecratory prayer before offering food—emphasizing reverence, purity, and mindful giving.