Shloka 40

Āyuḥ-kṣaya by Vikarma; Impermanence of the Body; Aśauca and Child Śrāddha Procedures; Dāna as Remedy

Devanagari script

कुर्यात्कर्माणि सर्वाणि चोदकुम्भादि पायसम् / दातव्यं तु खगश्रेष्ठ ऋणसम्बन्धकस्तु सः

Transliteration

kuryātkarmāṇi sarvāṇi codakumbhādi pāyasam / dātavyaṃ tu khagaśreṣṭha ṛṇasambandhakastu saḥ

Translation

Man soll alle vorgeschriebenen Riten vollziehen und auch Almosen geben, etwa einen Wasserkrug und süßen Milchreis (pāyasa). O Bester der Vögel (Garuda), solches Geben wird zur Verbindung für die Begleichung der Schulden (ṛṇa).

Word by Word

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• कर्माणि: actions, rites
• कर्माणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (qualifier) कर्माणि

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

• उदकुम्भादि: water-pot etc. (items like a water-pot)
• उदकुम्भादि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदकुम्भ + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—उदकुम्भः (water-pot) + आदि (etc.)

• पायसम्: rice-milk pudding (pāyasa)
• पायसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दातव्यम्: is to be given/should be given
• दातव्यम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्य (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/passive necessity), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विधेयभावः (to be given)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधबोधक अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• खगश्रेष्ठ: O best of birds
• खगश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—खगः (bird) + श्रेष्ठः (best)

• ऋणसम्बन्धकः: a debtor/one bound by debt-connection
• ऋणसम्बन्धकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋण + सम्बन्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—ऋणस्य सम्बन्धकः (one connected with debt)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधबोधक अव्यय (particle)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During prescribed rites/śrāddha-adjacent observances as part of household dharma

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna and prescribed rites function as ṛṇa-nivṛtti (repayment/connection for settling debts), sustaining dharmic order and future welfare.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as binding when self-centered; karma offered/regulated by dharma purifies and prepares for higher pursuit (citta-śuddhi).

Application: Maintain a disciplined giving practice: include simple, concrete gifts (water-pot, food like pāyasa) alongside obligatory rites; treat giving as repayment of life’s received supports.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections emphasizing dāna of anna, jala, vastra, pātra as pitṛ-upakāra; Garuda Purana discussions of ṛṇa-traya and dharma of giving

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of donating a water-pot (udaka-kumbha) and pāyasa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents such donations as part of the prescribed rites and as supportive acts that help fulfill dharmic obligations (ṛṇa), especially in the context of post-death rites and merit-making.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By emphasizing correct rites and charity, the verse implies that the departed is aided through dharmic support from the living, while the performer also clears obligations (ṛṇa) that bind beings within the moral order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform essential family rites with sincerity and include simple, meaningful charity—like giving water resources and food—to align ritual practice with compassion and responsibility.