Shloka 33

Adhyaya 31 — Yoga Philosophy

Sanskrit

रेतोमूत्रकृताहारास्तन् मासं पितरस्तयोः ।

तस्मात्तु प्रथमं कार्यं प्राज्ञेनोपनिमन्त्रणम् ॥

Transliteration

retomūtrakṛtāhārāstanmāsaṃ pitarastayoḥ | tasmāttu prathamaṃ kāryaṃ prājñenopanimantraṇam ||

Translation

In jenem Monat nähren sich die Ahnen (pitṛ) jener beiden von Samen, Urin und Kot als Speise. Darum soll der Weise zuallererst die vorläufige Einladung (der geeigneten Gäste) vollziehen.

Word by Word

• retaḥ: of semen
• retaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: retas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन) — in compound relation

• mūtra: of urine
• mūtra: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन) — in compound relation

• kṛta: made/consisting of
• kṛta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन) — qualifying āhārāḥ

• āhārāḥ: foods/diet
• āhārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन) — pronoun for pitaras

• māsam: for a month
• māsam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) — duration (कालाधिकरण/अत्यन्तसंयोग)

• pitaraḥ: the ancestors (pitṛs)
• pitaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tayoḥ: of those two
• tayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन) — ‘of those two’

• tasmāt: therefore/from that
• tasmāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) — contrast/emphasis

• prathamam: first
• prathamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) — adverbial use ‘first’ qualifying kāryam

• kāryam: the act to be done
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• prājñena: by the wise man
• prājñena: Karta (कर्ता) / Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• upanimantraṇam: invitation (formal inviting)
• upanimantraṇam: Karta (कर्ता) / Karma (कर्म) (as the ‘thing to be done’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upa-ni-mantra (मन्त्र् धातु) + lyuṭ (ल्युट्)
• Form: Action noun (ल्युट्-कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Didactic narrator within the Purāṇic discourse (Śrāddha injunctions; frame-speaker not explicit in the given excerpt)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "dharma", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Pitṛ Pūjā
• Śrāddha procedure
• Ritual consequence imagery
• Self-restraint

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The rite is portrayed as fragile: negligence and sensuality degrade its fruit. The practical counsel—begin with proper invitation—grounds the rite in disciplined preparation and ethical seriousness.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/dharma instruction; it provides ritual protocol and deterrent consequences.

What is the esoteric significance?

The shocking ‘food’ description functions as a negative visualization: it trains aversion to actions that would invert the intended ‘nourishment’ of the pitṛs through offerings.