Shloka 11

Tila–Darbha–Maṇḍala in Aūrdhvadaihika: Protection, Eligibility, and the Merit of Salt-Dāna

Devanagari script

नित्यहोमं तथा श्राद्धं विप्राणां पादशोधनम् / मण्डलेन विना भूम्यां कुर्वन्त्येतच्च निष्फलम्

Transliteration

nityahomaṃ tathā śrāddhaṃ viprāṇāṃ pādaśodhanam / maṇḍalena vinā bhūmyāṃ kurvantyetacca niṣphalam

Translation

Tägliche Homa‑Feueropfer, die Śrāddha‑Riten und das Waschen der Füße der Brāhmaṇas — werden, wenn man sie auf dem Boden ohne zuvor ein rituelles Maṇḍala zu zeichnen vollzieht, fruchtlos und wirkungslos.

Word by Word

• नित्यहोमम्: daily oblation (homa)
• नित्यहोमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास: नित्यः होमः; पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (also/likewise)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• विप्राणाम्: of the brāhmaṇas
• विप्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचनम्

• पादशोधनम्: washing/cleansing of feet
• पादशोधनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + शोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी): पादस्य शोधनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• मण्डलेन: with a (protective) circle/maṇḍala
• मण्डलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, तृतीया, एकवचनम्

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Exclusion/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition-like), वियोगार्थ (without); सहप्रयोगे तृतीया/पञ्चमी

• भूम्याम्: on the ground
• भूम्याम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्

• कुर्वन्ति: do/perform
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; धातुः: कृ (करण)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

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

• निष्फलम्: fruitless/ineffective
• निष्फलम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (नञ्/निस्-पूर्वक): निष्फल = फलरहित; नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (एतत् विशेषयति)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: On śrāddha days as prescribed (tithi-based)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vidhi-pradhāna karma: ritual efficacy depends on correct procedure, including consecration of space (maṇḍala).

Vedantic Theme: Karma requires proper saṅkalpa and upakaraṇa; order (ṛta-like discipline) supports fruit (phala).

Application: Before homa, śrāddha, or honoring brāhmaṇas, prepare and mark the ritual area (maṇḍala), ensuring cleanliness and correct layout.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana ritual chapters on mandala, bhumi-shuddhi, shraddha-vidhi, and daily homa observances

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Vipras (Brahmanas)

FAQs

What is the importance of a maṇḍala in Garuda Purana rituals like homa and śrāddha?

This verse states that without establishing a maṇḍala (a sanctified, ritually defined space), acts like daily homa, śrāddha, and washing a brāhmaṇa’s feet do not yield their intended spiritual results.

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

Śrāddha is central to post-death and ancestral rites; the verse emphasizes procedural correctness—especially preparing the ritual ground—so that offerings meant for pitṛ-related merit are not rendered ineffective.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or homa, prepare a clean, designated ritual area (even a simple marked space) and follow basic purity rules so the intention and the rite align with traditional dharma.