Shloka 4

Phala-Saptamī and Vijayā-Saptamī: Bhādrapada Worship, Feeding, Mantra, and Sevenfold Saptamī Restraints

Devanagari script

दद्यात्फलानि विप्रेभ्यो मार्तण्डः प्रीयतामिति / खर्जूरं नारिकेलं वा प्राशयेन्मातुलुङ्गकम्

Transliteration

dadyātphalāni viprebhyo mārtaṇḍaḥ prīyatāmiti / kharjūraṃ nārikelaṃ vā prāśayenmātuluṅgakam

Translation

One should give fruits to the brāhmaṇas, saying, “May Mārtaṇḍa (the Sun) be pleased.” One should offer dates, or coconuts, or have them partake of mātuluṅga (citron).

Word by Word

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• phalāni: fruits
• phalāni: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• viprebhyaḥ: to brāhmaṇas
• viprebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), बहुवचन

• mārtaṇḍaḥ: Mārtaṇḍa (the Sun)
• mārtaṇḍaḥ: Sambodhana/Quoted subject (उक्तिविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārtaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सूर्य-नाम

• prīyatām: may (he) be pleased
• prīyatām: Kriyā (Quoted verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prī (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; आशीर्लिङ्गवत् प्रयोग (benedictive sense)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• kharjūram: date (fruit)
• kharjūram: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kharjūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• nārikelam: coconut
• nārikelam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārikela (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• prāśayet: should feed / should cause to eat
• prāśayet: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: aś (धातु) + pra (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• mātuluṅgakam: citron (mātuluṅga)
• mātuluṅgakam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātuluṅgaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna offered with explicit saṅkalpa (‘Mārtaṇḍaḥ prīyatām’) sacralizes ordinary food into worship; generosity becomes devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Offering (īśvara-arpana) transforms action; the attitude (bhāva) is central to karmic refinement.

Application: Give wholesome fruits/foods in charity with a clear intention of gratitude and worship; keep offerings sattvic and seasonally appropriate.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual gift-giving setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.130.5: feeding with pāyasa as part of the same rite; Garuda Purana: dāna-vidhi passages prescribing specific items and saṅkalpa formulas

Characters & Entities

• Mārtaṇḍa (Sun)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering fruits to brāhmaṇas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames fruit-giving (phaladāna) to learned brāhmaṇas as a meritorious act performed with a clear devotional intent—specifically to please Mārtaṇḍa (the Sun), linking charity with deity-propitiation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana teachings?

Indirectly: it emphasizes ritual charity (dāna) as a source of puṇya (merit), which the Garuda Purana repeatedly presents as supportive for auspicious post-death outcomes and reduced suffering in the afterlife journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice mindful giving: donate wholesome food/fruits to sincere recipients (or religious/charitable institutions) with a prayerful intention—cultivating gratitude, discipline, and merit-oriented living.