Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

पितॄणां च प्रियं भव्यं तस्मात्स्वर्गप्रदं भवेत् / विष्णुदेहसमुद्भूतो यतो ऽयं लवणो रसः

Transliteration

pitṝṇāṃ ca priyaṃ bhavyaṃ tasmātsvargapradaṃ bhavet / viṣṇudehasamudbhūto yato 'yaṃ lavaṇo rasaḥ

Translation

Salz ist den Pitṛs lieb und glückverheißend; darum wird es zum Spender des Himmels (Verdienst). Denn dieser salzige Saft, so heißt es, ist aus dem Leib Viṣṇus hervorgegangen.

Word by Word

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

• प्रियम्: dear/pleasing
• प्रियम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (लवणम्/रसः)

• भव्यम्: auspicious/excellent
• भव्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (auspicious/excellent)

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (therefore/from that)

• स्वर्गप्रदम्: granting heaven
• स्वर्गप्रदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (स्वर्गं प्रददाति)

• भवेत्: would be/should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिङ् (Potential/Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विष्णुदेहसमुद्भूतः: arisen from Vishnu's body
• विष्णुदेहसमुद्भूतः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक) + समुद्भूत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (समुद्भूत = arisen), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः देहात् समुद्भूतः)

• यतः: since/from which
• यतः: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (since/from which)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देश

• लवणः: salty/of salt
• लवणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (रसः)

• रसः: taste/essence
• रसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha occasions (including annual/parva contexts)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Offerings pleasing to Pitṛs yield svarga; all auspicious essences ultimately arise from Viṣṇu—devotion integrates ancestral rites with Viṣṇu-centered theology.

Vedantic Theme: Sarva-kāraṇatva of Bhagavān (all arises from the Lord); harmonizing pravṛtti (rites) with nivṛtti (God-centeredness).

Application: In śrāddha/ancestral remembrance, prepare offerings with care (including appropriate tastes) while mentally dedicating the act to Viṣṇu as the ultimate source.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/ancestral context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha teachings on pitṛ-prīti and svarga-phala; substances dear to Pitṛs (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of salt (lavaṇa) in Garuda Purana ancestral rites?

This verse states that salt is especially pleasing and auspicious for the Pitṛs; using it in offerings is therefore described as merit-giving, supporting the performer’s spiritual welfare.

How does this verse connect ritual substances to divine origin?

It frames salt as sacred by attributing its origin to Viṣṇu’s body, implying that certain ritual items are powerful because they are linked to divine reality and thus effectively satisfy the ancestors.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing Śrāddha, tarpaṇa, or remembrance rites for ancestors, treat the offerings as sacred and intentional—offer with purity, restraint, and devotion rather than as a mere formality.