Shloka 6

On Untimely Death and the Explanation of Pleasure and Pain, Gain and Loss

Vṛṣotsarga and Preta-Uddhāra Rites

Devanagari script

आघारावाज्यभागौ तु पायसेनाङ्गदेवताः / अग्नये रुद्राय शर्वाय पशुपतये उग्राय शिवाय / भवाय महादेवायेशानाय यमाय च

Transliteration

āghārāvājyabhāgau tu pāyasenāṅgadevatāḥ / agnaye rudrāya śarvāya paśupataye ugrāya śivāya / bhavāya mahādevāyeśānāya yamāya ca

Translation

Āghāra und die Opferanteile des Ghee (ājya) sind zusammen mit süßem Milchreis (pāyasa) den Gliedmaßen waltenden Gottheiten darzubringen: Agni, Rudra, Śarva, Paśupati, Ugra, Śiva, Bhava, Mahādeva, Īśāna und auch Yama.

Word by Word

• आघारौ: the two āghāra offerings
• आघारौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आघार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• आज्यभागौ: the two ghee-portions
• आज्यभागौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य-भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• तु: indeed/and then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण/विरोध (particle)

• पायसेन: with payasa (milk-rice)
• पायसेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• अङ्गदेवताः: the deities of the limbs (ancillary deities)
• अङ्गदेवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग-देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अङ्गानां देवताः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अग्नये: to Agni
• अग्नये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन

• रुद्राय: to Rudra
• रुद्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• शर्वाय: to Śarva
• शर्वाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• पशुपतये: to Paśupati
• पशुपतये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पशूनां पतिः), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• उग्राय: to Ugra
• उग्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• भवाय: to Bhava
• भवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• महादेवाय: to Mahādeva
• महादेवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् देवः), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• ईशानाय: to Īśāna
• ईशानाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• यमाय: to Yama
• यमाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

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

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual order (vidhi) and deity-specific offerings purify and integrate the practitioner’s embodied life with divine governance.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as citta-śuddhi (purification) preparing for higher realization; īśvara-anugraha through disciplined action.

Application: Perform offerings with correct deity-address and materials; treat ritual precision as ethical discipline and attentional training.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: sacrificial altar (yajna-vedi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.41 (surrounding śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-vidhi context); References to āghāra/ājya-bhāga and sviṣṭikṛt in adjacent verses (2.41.7–8)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Rudra
• Śarva
• Paśupati
• Ugra
• Śiva
• Bhava
• Mahādeva
• Īśāna
• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of āghāra and ājya-bhāga offerings in Garuda Purana śrāddha?

This verse indicates that preliminary ghee libations (āghāra) and the allotted ghee portions (ājya-bhāga) are ritually directed to specific deities; doing so correctly is presented as part of the proper śrāddha procedure that supports orderly rites for the departed.

Why are Rudra’s forms (Śarva, Paśupati, Ugra, Śiva, Bhava, Mahādeva, Īśāna) invoked along with Agni and Yama?

The verse groups multiple names/forms associated with Rudra-Śiva alongside Agni (the carrier of offerings) and Yama (lord of the departed), reflecting a ritual mapping where offerings are entrusted to divine powers connected with transformation, purification, and the post-death order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha or memorial rites, follow a qualified tradition (purohita/ācārya) and keep the intent clear: make offerings with reverence, purity, and ethical living, dedicating actions for the welfare of ancestors and for dharmic conduct.