Shloka 13

Devanagari script

अग्न्याधानं प्रतिष्ठां तु यज्ञदानव्रतानि च / वेदव्रतवृषोत्सर्गचूडाकरणमेखलाः

Transliteration

agnyādhānaṃ pratiṣṭhāṃ tu yajñadānavratāni ca / vedavratavṛṣotsargacūḍākaraṇamekhalāḥ

Translation

The rites of establishing the sacred fires (agnyādhāna), consecratory installations, sacrifices (yajña), charitable gifts (dāna), and religious vows (vrata)—as well as Vedic observances such as the gifting or release of a bull (vṛṣotsarga), the tonsure (cūḍākaraṇa), and the investiture with the sacred girdle (mekhalā)—should be duly performed and are reckoned as meritorious acts.

Word by Word

• अग्न्याधानम्: establishing the sacred fires
• अग्न्याधानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + आधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अग्नेः आधानम्)

• प्रतिष्ठाम्: consecration/installation
• प्रतिष्ठाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/contrast particle)

• यज्ञदानव्रतानि: sacrifices, gifts, and vows
• यज्ञदानव्रतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (यज्ञाः च दानानि च व्रतानि च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• वेदव्रतवृषोत्सर्गचूडाकरणमेखलाः: Vedic vow, bull-release, tonsure, and girdle-ceremony (etc.)
• वेदव्रतवृषोत्सर्गचूडाकरणमेखलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + चूडा (प्रातिपदिक) + करण (प्रातिपदिक) + मेखला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वसमासः (वेदव्रतम्, वृषोत्सर्गः, चूडाकरणम्, मेखलाः इत्यादीनि संस्काराः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Merit accrues through properly performed śrauta and gṛhya rites, dāna, and vrata; saṃskāras sustain dharmic life.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: purifying action (śuddha-karma) as a support for inner refinement and eventual liberation.

Application: Maintain a life-cycle and ritual calendar: uphold agnyādhāna (where applicable), perform saṃskāras (cūḍā, mekhalā/upānayana), observe vratas, and practice dāna (including vṛṣotsarga where traditional).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (grihya/vaidika)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma/ācāra sections): discussions on tithi, māsa, muhūrta, and saṃskāras in adjacent verses of 1.128; Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa elsewhere): emphasis that correct rites support post-death welfare, though not explicit here

FAQs

What is the importance of Vedic rites like agnyādhāna and pratiṣṭhā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse groups them among core dharmic observances—establishing sacred fire, consecrations, sacrifices, charity, and vows—implying they are recognized as meritorious, order-sustaining duties.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing yajña, dāna, and vrata as dharma-based actions, it points to the role of righteous conduct and sanctioned rites in generating puṇya that supports auspicious post-death outcomes described elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize ethical vows and charity, and follow authentic, lineage-based samskaras and worship consecrations where applicable—treating ritual as an extension of disciplined dharma rather than mere formality.