Shloka 26

Explanation of Purification (Śuddhi-vyākhyāna)

Devanagari script

प्रदद्याद्धूपदीपन्तु तण्डुलांश्च सितान् क्षिपेत् / आमपिष्टं तथैवान्नं क्षीरञ्च विनिवेदयेत्

Transliteration

pradadyāddhūpadīpantu taṇḍulāṃśca sitān kṣipet / āmapiṣṭaṃ tathaivānnaṃ kṣīrañca vinivedayet

Translation

Man soll Räucherwerk und eine Lampe darbringen und zudem weiße Reiskörner ausstreuen; ebenso soll man rohen Mehlteig, gekochte Speise und Milch als Opfergabe darreichen.

Word by Word

• प्रदद्यात्: should offer/give
• प्रदद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्गः ‘प्र-’

• धूप-दीपम्: incense and lamp
• धूप-दीपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक) + दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार-द्वन्द्व) — incense and lamp (as offerings)

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• तण्डुलान्: rice grains
• तण्डुलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

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

• सितान्: white
• सितान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तण्डुलान् इति विशेषणम्

• क्षिपेत्: should scatter/throw
• क्षिपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• आम-पिष्टम्: raw flour/paste
• आम-पिष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आम (प्रातिपदिक) + पिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास — ‘आमं पिष्टम्’ (raw flour/paste)

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

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

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• विनिवेदयेत्: should present/offer (as naivedya)
• विनिवेदयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निवेद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्गः ‘वि-नि-’

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Deva

Timing: During Deva-śrāddha upacāra sequence within the śrāddha day

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha is upheld through precise upacāras—light, fragrance, and food offerings—done with śuddhi and niyama.

Vedantic Theme: Kartṛtva within dharma: right action (karma) as a purifier when aligned with śāstra and sattva.

Application: When performing ancestral/deity rites, keep offerings simple, pure, and complete: lamp, incense, clean grains, and appropriate food items offered with steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śrāddha-upacāra sequences and anna/kṣīra offerings (general śrāddha sections around 2.44); Garuda Purana: deva-śrāddha and pitṛ-śrāddha procedural parallels in adjacent verses

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of offering incense, lamp, rice, food, and milk in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists standard upacāras (ritual offerings) meant to honor and nourish the departed (preta/pitṛ) through śrāddha-style observances, expressing care, continuity of duty, and reverence.

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

In the Preta Kanda, such offerings are part of the prescribed rites that support the departed during the transitional preta state, reinforcing the living person’s dharmic responsibility toward ancestors.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform memorial/ancestor rites with sincerity and cleanliness—offering light, simple food, and milk (as per one’s tradition) while cultivating gratitude and ethical living as an expression of dharma toward family lineage.