Shloka 11

Vrata-Niyama: Fasting Purity, Brahmakūrcha, Naktāhāra, and Kāla-Nirṇaya

Ritual Timing

Devanagari script

क्षीरं सप्तपलं दद्याद्दध्नश्चैव पलत्रयम् / घृतमेकफलं दद्यात्पलमेकं कुशोदकम्

Transliteration

kṣīraṃ saptapalaṃ dadyāddadhnaścaiva palatrayam / ghṛtamekaphalaṃ dadyātpalamekaṃ kuśodakam

Translation

One should offer seven palas of milk, three palas of curd, one pala of ghee, and one pala of water sanctified with kuśa grass.

Word by Word

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सप्तपलम्: seven palas
• सप्तपलम्: Karma (Measure/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तपल (प्रातिपदिक: सप्त + पल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• दद्याद्: should give
• दद्याद्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• दध्नः: of curd
• दध्नः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थ (emphasis)

• पलत्रयम्: three palas
• पलत्रयम्: Karma (Measure/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलत्रय (प्रातिपदिक: पल + त्रय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• एकफलम्: one phala (a measure)
• एकफलम्: Karma (Measure/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकफल (प्रातिपदिक: एक + फल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• पलम्: one pala
• पलम्: Karma (Measure/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) पलस्य

• कुशोदकम्: water with kuśa-grass
• कुशोदकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशोदक (प्रातिपदिक: कुश + उदक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāyaścitta/dāna is specified by exact measures; purity is enacted through disciplined giving of milk, curd, ghee, and kuśa-sanitized water.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as śuddhi-sādhana: regulated action and offering refine the doer’s intention and restore harmony after fault.

Application: When performing the prescribed expiation/ritual giving, follow the stated quantities: 7 palas milk, 3 palas curd, 1 pala ghee, 1 pala kuśodaka (water sanctified with kuśa).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.128.10 (context of expiation); Garuda Purana 1.128.12 (mantra-based vrata continuation)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering milk, curd, ghee, and kuśa-water in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes specific ritual substances and measured quantities for śrāddha-related offerings, emphasizing disciplined, rule-based giving (dāna/arpana) as part of funerary observance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by detailing correct post-death ritual provisions, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that proper rites and offerings aid the departed’s transition and well-being in the post-mortem journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow tradition with clarity and sincerity—use pure ingredients, maintain ritual cleanliness (especially sanctified water), and consult a competent priest/tradition for correct measures and procedure.