Shloka 16

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

अन्नञ्चैव तथा तोयं परित्यज्य नरो यदि / पीतमत्पादतोयश्च न पुनर्जायते क्षितौ

Transliteration

annañcaiva tathā toyaṃ parityajya naro yadi / pītamatpādatoyaśca na punarjāyate kṣitau

Translation

Wenn ein Mensch Speise und Wasser entsagt und nur das Wasser trinkt, das Meine Füße gewaschen hat, wird er auf Erden nicht wiedergeboren.

Word by Word

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• परित्यज्य: having given up
• परित्यज्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभावः; ‘having abandoned’

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Upapada (उपपद/शर्तसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional)

• पीतम्: drunk
• पीतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle) ‘drunk’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(water) drunk’ (तोयस्य विशेषणम्)

• मत्-पाद-तोयः: the water of my feet
• मत्-पाद-तोयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘मम पादस्य तोयम्’ = water of my feet)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• क्षितौ: on earth
• क्षितौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pādodaka-sevā as supreme purificatory devotion granting apunarjanma (no rebirth on earth).

Vedantic Theme: Grace (anugraha) and purification leading toward mokṣa; bhakti as a direct means overriding ordinary karmic recurrence.

Application: Cultivate Viṣṇu-bhakti through reverent use of pādodaka/charanāmṛta (where traditionally sanctioned), alongside disciplined renunciation and ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Pretakalpa/Dharmakāṇḍa) recurring praise of Viṣṇu-nāma, tulasī, tīrtha, and pādodaka as sin-destroyers and mokṣa-givers

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of drinking Vishnu-pāda-toya (charanamrita) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents it as an act of exclusive devotion and surrender, credited with the fruit of freedom from rebirth on earth.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It implies that intense renunciation combined with Vishnu-centered devotion leads beyond the ordinary cycle of return to earthly birth, indicating a moksha-oriented destiny rather than repeated transmigration.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate disciplined restraint and devotion—prioritizing spiritual practice, purity, and remembrance of Vishnu—rather than indulgence, aiming for inner detachment and higher purpose.