Shloka 21

Śrāddha Vidhi (Pārvaṇa-Śrāddha): Invitations, Arghya, Protective Rites, Piṇḍa Offering, Dakṣiṇā, and Visarjana

Devanagari script

ते ऽभिजाताः कुरुक्षेत्रे ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः / प्रस्थिता दूरमध्वानं यूयं किमवसीदथ

Transliteration

te 'bhijātāḥ kurukṣetre brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ / prasthitā dūramadhvānaṃ yūyaṃ kimavasīdatha

Translation

Ihr seid wohlgeborene Brāhmaṇas aus Kurukṣetra, Meister, die das ferne Ufer der Veden erreicht haben. Nachdem ihr zu einer langen Reise aufgebrochen seid, warum verliert ihr jetzt den Mut und sinkt in Niedergeschlagenheit?

Word by Word

• te: they/you (those)
• te: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (pronoun)

• abhijātāḥ: well-born; noble
• abhijātāḥ: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-jan (धातु) → abhijāta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• kurukṣetre: in Kurukṣetra
• kurukṣetre: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: kurukṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (place-name)

• brāhmaṇāḥ: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• veda-pāragāḥ: versed in the Vedas
• veda-pāragāḥ: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + pāra-ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य पारं गताः)

• prasthitāḥ: set out; departed
• prasthitāḥ: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-sthā (धातु) → prasthita (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• dūram: far
• dūram: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative)

• adhvānam: journey; path
• adhvānam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• yūyam: you (pl.)
• yūyam: Karta (Addressed subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन (2nd person pronoun)

• kim: why? what?
• kim: Sambandha (Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• avasīdatha: do you sink down; become dejected
• avasīdatha: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-sad (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narrator (contextual address to the Brāhmaṇas; within the Garuda Purana dialogue framework, conveyed as part of the teaching to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Those grounded in Vedic mastery and dharmic lineage should not succumb to despair; perseverance is itself a dharmic virtue.

Vedantic Theme: Dhairya (steadfastness) as a sādhana-support; śāstra-jñāna must mature into inner fortitude.

Application: In long duties (ritual, study, caregiving), recall one’s commitments and training; reframe fatigue as a test of steadiness and continue with composure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/field (kṣetra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana narrative frames where exempla/hymns exhort proper conduct during rites (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Kurukṣetra
• Vedas

FAQs

What is the importance of perseverance in dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dharma as a long journey and urges even learned, well-born practitioners not to fall into despair, implying that steadiness is essential for spiritual progress.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or the seeker?

By calling life/practice a “distant path” (dūram adhvānam), it depicts the journey toward right conduct and liberation as demanding endurance, not merely knowledge.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep consistent daily sādhana and ethical discipline, especially when motivation drops—learning and good background are not enough without sustained effort.