Shloka 57

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

शूद्रानीतैः कृतं कर्म सर्वं भवति निष्फलम् / प्राचीनावीतिना भाव्यं दक्षिणाभिमुकेन च

Transliteration

śūdrānītaiḥ kṛtaṃ karma sarvaṃ bhavati niṣphalam / prācīnāvītinā bhāvyaṃ dakṣiṇābhimukena ca

Translation

Jedes Ritual, das mit von einem Śūdra herbeigebrachten Dingen vollzogen wird, wird gänzlich fruchtlos. Darum soll der Ausführende die heilige Schnur im prācīnāvīta‑Modus nach Ahnenart tragen und nach Süden blicken, der Richtung der Pitṛs.

Word by Word

• śūdra-ānītaiḥ: by those brought by a Śūdra
• śūdra-ānītaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक) + ānīta (कृदन्त; √nī-नी (धातु) + ā-उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) विशेषण; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शूद्रैः आनीताः)

• kṛtam: done, performed
• kṛtam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ- कृ (धातु), क्त)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, कर्मणि-भावे विशेषण

• karma: ritual act, rite
• karma: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• sarvam: all, entirely
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (karma-विशेषण)

• bhavati: becomes
• bhavati: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū-भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• niṣphalam: fruitless
• niṣphalam: Pūraka (Complement/पूरक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (karma-विशेषण)

• prācīna-āvītinā: with the prācīnāvīta (sacred thread worn in the reverse manner)
• prācīna-āvītinā: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prācīna (प्रातिपदिक) + āvītin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (प्राचीनं च तत् आवीतिः/आवितिः) विशेषण; ‘प्राचीनावीत’ (यज्ञोपवीत-धारण-प्रकारः)

• bhāvyam: should be done
• bhāvyam: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāvya (कृदन्त; √bhū-भू (धातु), ण्यत्/तव्यत्-भाव)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थे ‘कर्तव्य/भवितव्य’ (obligatory)

• dakṣiṇa-abhimukena: facing south
• dakṣiṇa-abhimukena: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + abhimukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दक्षिणां अभिमुखः) विशेषण

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During Pitṛ-karmas connected to death rites/śrāddha; performed facing south with prācīnāvīta.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on prescribed purity, proper agency, and correct orientation (prācīnāvīta; dakṣiṇābhimukha).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa niyama: results (phala) arise when action conforms to śāstra; deviation yields niṣphalatā.

Application: In ancestral rites, ensure offerings and implements are procured/handled per tradition; wear prācīnāvīta and face south during Pitṛ-karmas.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: directional orientation in rite

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4 (antyeṣṭi/śrāddha-vidhi context; prācīnāvīta and dakṣiṇā-mukhatā recur in Pitṛ-karmas)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of prācīnāvīta and facing south in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that ancestral rites should be done in the prācīnāvīta manner and while facing south, aligning the performer with Pitṛ-related ritual protocol so the act becomes efficacious.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on after-death rites?

Preta and śrāddha rites are presented as technically precise actions whose correctness affects results; here, improper handling of ritual requisites and incorrect posture/direction are said to nullify the rite’s fruit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or memorial offerings, follow the prescribed procedure (authorized assistance, correct thread position, and south-facing orientation) to maintain ritual integrity and intended spiritual purpose.