Shloka 21

Explanation of Purification (Śuddhi-vyākhyāna)

Devanagari script

कीर्तयन्नामगोत्रे तु भुवि प्रीतोस्त्विति क्षिपेत् / मित्रबन्धुजनैः सार्धं शेषं भुञ्जीत वाग्यतः / प्रतिसंवत्सरादि स्यादेकोद्दिष्टविधानतः

Transliteration

kīrtayannāmagotre tu bhuvi prītostviti kṣipet / mitrabandhujanaiḥ sārdhaṃ śeṣaṃ bhuñjīta vāgyataḥ / pratisaṃvatsarādi syādekoddiṣṭavidhānataḥ

Translation

Indem man den Namen und die Gotra (Sippenlinie) des Verstorbenen rezitiert, lege man die Gabe auf die Erde und spreche: „Möge er zufrieden sein.“ Dann esse man zusammen mit Freunden und Verwandten das Übrige, die Rede gezügelt. Dies ist jährlich und zu ähnlichen Anlässen nach dem ekoddiṣṭa‑Verfahren (Ritus für einen einzelnen Verstorbenen) zu vollziehen.

Word by Word

• kīrtayan: reciting/mentioning
• kīrtayan: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kīrt (कीर्त्)
• Form: Present Participle (शत्र्), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• nāmagotre: name and lineage
• nāmagotre: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāmagotra (नाम-गोत्र)
• Form: Accusative (द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (तु)
• Form: Particle

• bhuvi: on the ground
• bhuvi: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (भूमि)
• Form: Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग)

• prītaḥ: pleased
• prītaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta (प्रीत)
• Form: Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• astu: let it be
• astu: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस्)
• Form: Lot (Imperative/लोट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (इति)
• Form: Particle

• kṣipet: should throw/pour
• kṣipet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (क्षिप्)
• Form: Vidhilin (Potential/विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mitrabandhujanaiḥ: with friends and relatives
• mitrabandhujanaiḥ: Sahartha (Association/सहार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitrabandhujana (मित्र-बन्धु-जन)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• sārdham: together with
• sārdham: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdham (सार्धम्)
• Form: Prepositional Adverb

• śeṣam: remainder (of food)
• śeṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (शेष)
• Form: Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग)

• bhuñjīta: should eat
• bhuñjīta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (भुज्)
• Form: Vidhilin (Potential/विधिलिङ्), Atmanepada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vāgyataḥ: silent (restrained in speech)
• vāgyataḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāgyata (वाच्-यत)
• Form: Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• pratisaṃvatsarādi: the annual ceremony etc.
• pratisaṃvatsarādi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratisaṃvatsarādi (प्रति-संवत्सर-आदि)
• Form: Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग)

• syāt: should be
• syāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस्)
• Form: Vidhilin (Potential/विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• ekoddiṣṭavidhānataḥ: according to the rule of Ekoddishta
• ekoddiṣṭavidhānataḥ: Hetu/Manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ekoddiṣṭavidhāna (एकोद्दिष्ट-विधान)
• Form: Tasil Suffix (तसिल्)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: prati-saṃvatsara (annual) and similar occasions

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual precision and respectful restraint (vāk-niyama) sustain the efficacy of offerings for the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Kartavya-karma and saṃskāra as purifying duties within pravṛtti, supporting subtle welfare beyond death.

Application: Perform annual ekoddiṣṭa with correct sankalpa (name-gotra), offer with reverence, and maintain disciplined speech and conduct during the rite.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: griha/śrāddha-vedi (domestic ritual space)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: ekoddiṣṭa-śrāddha and annual observances (various śrāddha-vidhi passages); Garuda Purana: pinda-dāna and name-gotra sankalpa instructions in śrāddha sections

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of ekoddiṣṭa śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that ekoddiṣṭa is a focused rite for a single departed person, done by naming the deceased with gotra and offering with the intention “may he be pleased,” and it is repeated annually as prescribed.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In Preta Kanda contexts, such offerings and annual rites are presented as supportive acts for the departed (preta/pitṛ), aiming at satisfaction and welfare of the subtle journey through proper dharmic observance.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

When performing memorial rites, keep the intention clear (name and lineage), follow a consistent annual observance, and maintain restraint and reverence (vāg-yama) during the ritual and shared meal.