Shloka 128

Brahmin Right Conduct: Morning Remembrance, Bathing, Purification, and Tarpaṇa Method

Devanagari script

त्रिभुक्तं प्रेतदैत्यस्य चतुर्थं कौणपस्य तु । निरामिषं हविर्देवा मत्स्यमांसादि मानुषाः

Transliteration

tribhuktaṃ pretadaityasya caturthaṃ kauṇapasya tu | nirāmiṣaṃ havirdevā matsyamāṃsādi mānuṣāḥ

Translation

Drei (Arten von Speise) verzehrt der Preta-Dämon; die vierte ist die des Aasfressers. Die Devas nehmen Opfergaben (havis) ohne Fleisch zu sich; die Menschen aber essen Fisch, Fleisch und dergleichen.

Word by Word

• त्रिभुक्तम्: (food) eaten thrice
• त्रिभुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + भुक्त (कृदन्त, √भुज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), √भुज् (भक्षणे) — 'thrice-eaten'

• प्रेतदैत्यस्य: of the preta-demon
• प्रेतदैत्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रेतस्य दैत्यः)

• चतुर्थम्: the fourth (portion)
• चतुर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• कौणपस्य: of the corpse-eater (kauṇapa)
• कौणपस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौणप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• निरामिषम्: without meat
• निरामिषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरामिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• हविः: oblation (havis)
• हविः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विसर्गान्त रूप

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• मत्स्यमांसादि: fish, meat, etc.
• मत्स्यमांसादि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (मत्स्यं च मांसं च इत्यादि)

• मानुषाः: humans
• मानुषाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative voice within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa; broader frame traditionally involves Pulastya instructing Bhīṣma)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: हविर्देवा → हविः + देवाः; मत्स्यमांसादि is treated as a compound (samāhāra-dvandva with ādi).

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What distinction does this verse make between divine and human diet?

It contrasts the devas, who receive nirāmiṣa havis (meatless sacrificial oblations), with humans, who are described as eating fish, meat, and similar foods.

Who are the 'preta-demon' and the 'carrion-eater' here?

They indicate classes of beings associated with impure or fearsome realms—preta-like spirits and corpse-feeding beings—used to mark a hierarchy of consumption and purity.

What ethical or dharmic lesson is implied?

The verse implies a gradation of purity in food: offerings to the divine are ideally meatless, and dietary choices are linked to spiritual and ritual refinement.