Shloka 130

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

त्रींस्त्रीनेवाञ्जलीन्दद्यादाकाशे दक्षिणे तथा / वसित्वा वसनं शुष्कं स्थलस्था स्तर्णबर्हिषि

Transliteration

trīṃstrīnevāñjalīndadyādākāśe dakṣiṇe tathā / vasitvā vasanaṃ śuṣkaṃ sthalasthā starṇabarhiṣi

Translation

One should offer three handfuls of water (añjali) three times to the southern quarter, as if into the open sky. Then, wearing dry clothing, one should remain seated on a clean, dry spot upon spread sacred grass (barhis).

Word by Word

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण (अञ्जलीन् इति विशेष्यं)

• त्रीन्: three (again)
• त्रीन्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति (three more/again three)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• अञ्जलीन्: handful-offerings
• अञ्जलीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

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

• आकाशे: in the sky/space
• आकाशे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• दक्षिणे: to the south/right side
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (दिशि-प्रयोगः)

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चय (thus/also)

• वसित्वा: having dwelt/stayed
• वसित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• वसनम्: garment
• वसनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शुष्कम्: dry
• शुष्कम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; वसनम् इति विशेष्यं

• स्थलस्थाः: standing on the ground
• स्थलस्थाः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थल + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्थले स्थाः = standing on ground)

• स्तर्णबर्हिषि: on spread sacred grass
• स्तर्णबर्हिषि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तर्ण + बर्हिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्तर्णं बर्हिः = spread grass)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after tarpaṇa invocation; followed by sitting on barhis

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Correct number, direction, and post-rite conduct (dry clothing, clean seat on barhis) preserve ritual efficacy and purity.

Vedantic Theme: Order (ṛta-like discipline) in karma; external exactness supports internal steadiness.

Application: Offer prescribed añjalis to the south; change into dry cloth; sit on clean kuśa/barhis to continue japa or further śrāddha acts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: riverbank/ghāṭa and adjacent clean ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.129 (posture and invocation); Garuda Purana 1.213.131 (avoid impure water/vessels)

Characters & Entities

• Darbha (Kuśa grass)
• South direction (Dakṣiṇa-dik)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering three añjali (handful) offerings to the south in the Garuda Purana?

The verse prescribes a directional water-offering (toward the southern quarter associated with Yama and the departed) as a rite of respect and support within death-ritual procedure.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death?

By outlining a precise ritual action (water-offering and disciplined sitting on darbha), it reflects the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that correct rites and purity support the departed and align the living with dharma during the preta-related period.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha or remembrance rites, follow cleanliness, simplicity, and correct procedure—offer with focused intention, maintain purity (dry, clean clothing), and sit in a calm, dedicated place for the ritual.