Shloka 17

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

गन्तव्यं नैव विप्रेण दातुं शीघ्रं जलाञ्जलिम् / निवृत्ताश्च यदा नार्यो लोकाचारः सदाभवेत्

Transliteration

gantavyaṃ naiva vipreṇa dātuṃ śīghraṃ jalāñjalim / nivṛttāśca yadā nāryo lokācāraḥ sadābhavet

Translation

Ein Brāhmaṇa soll nicht hastig fortgehen; vielmehr soll er unverzüglich das jalāñjali, die Wasserspende, darbringen. Und wenn die Frauen sich zurückgezogen haben, soll der Brauch der Gemeinschaft (lokācāra) in rechter Weise fortgeführt werden.

Word by Word

• gantavyam: one should go
• gantavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gantavya (कृदन्त; √gam गम् धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; gerundive (भाव्य/कर्तव्य) used impersonally: "it is to be gone" = "one should go"

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• eva: indeed/at all
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• vipreṇa: by a brāhmaṇa
• vipreṇa: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agent/performer in impersonal construction

• dātum: to give
• dātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण)

• jala-añjalim: a handful of water
• jala-añjalim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of dātum

• nivṛttāḥ: having withdrawn/returned
• nivṛttāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nivṛtta (कृदन्त; √vṛt वृत्त् धातु with नि-)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; past participle "having withdrawn/returned"; agrees with nāryaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• yadā: when
• yadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• nāryaḥ: women
• nāryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• loka-ācāraḥ: social custom
• loka-ācāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: lokasya ācāraḥ = "custom of the people"; subject of abhavet

• sadā: always
• sadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (नित्यत्ववाचक)

• abhavet: should be/should occur
• abhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु) with prefix a- (अ)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Do not leave without completing jalāñjali; maintain proper sequence and social decorum—customary conduct resumes after appropriate withdrawal of women.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as disciplined action (niyama) and social harmony; ritual completion before movement/action.

Application: Complete essential rites without haste; respect roles, privacy, and community protocol during bereavement gatherings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-social setting (post-offering conduct)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: procedural etiquette in post-death rites; emphasis on completing udaka/śrāddha steps before dispersal (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana
• Women
• Community custom (Lokachara)

FAQs

What is the importance of jalāñjali (water-oblation) in the Garuda Purana funeral context?

This verse stresses that the water-oblation should be offered promptly and not neglected, indicating it is a time-sensitive rite within post-death observances.

How does this verse guide proper ritual sequence and social conduct?

It indicates an order: the officiant should complete the immediate water-offering first, and then, after women withdraw, the remaining customary procedures (lokācāra) should continue appropriately.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow a clear, respectful sequence in last rites—complete essential offerings without delay and maintain decorum and role-appropriate participation so the rite proceeds smoothly and respectfully.