Shloka 20

Saṃsāra-cakra, Preta’s 12-day Transit to Yama, Re-embodiment, and Karma-Vipāka Catalog of Sins and Rebirths

Devanagari script

यज्ञदानविवाहानां विघ्नकर्ता भवेत्कृमिः / देवतापितृविप्राणामदत्त्वा यो ऽन्नमश्नुते

Transliteration

yajñadānavivāhānāṃ vighnakartā bhavetkṛmiḥ / devatāpitṛviprāṇāmadattvā yo 'nnamaśnute

Translation

One who becomes an obstacle to sacrifices (yajña), charitable giving, and marriages is reborn as a worm in a degraded state. And one who eats without first offering to the Devas, the Pitṛs, and the Brahmins likewise incurs grave fault.

Word by Word

• यज्ञदानविवाहानाम्: of sacrifices, gifts, and marriages
• यज्ञदानविवाहानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + दान + विवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (yajñānāṃ dānānāṃ vivāhānāṃ)

• विघ्नकर्ता: an obstacle-maker
• विघ्नकर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vighnasya kartā)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कृमिः: a worm
• कृमिः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-रूप)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• देवतापितृविप्राणाम्: of the deities, ancestors, and Brahmins
• देवतापितृविप्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता + पितृ + विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• अदत्त्वा: without giving (to)
• अदत्त्वा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न + √दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund) with नञ्-पूर्वक (negative): ‘without giving’

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• अश्नुते: eats/consumes
• अश्नुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Obstructing yajña/dāna/vivāha undermines dharma and yields low rebirth; eating without offering to Devas, Pitṛs, and Vipras violates the economy of reciprocity (ṛṇa) and sanctified consumption.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as participation in cosmic reciprocity; neglect of deva/pitṛ obligations strengthens bondage and tamas.

Application: Do not sabotage others’ rites or life-events; sanctify food through offering/thankfulness and sharing; support communal religious and social functions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana teachings on pañca-mahāyajña and obligations to Devas/Pitṛs/Atithis (thematic within dharma sections); Adjacent yoni-phala verses 1.225.18–22

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitris
• Vipras (Brahmins)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering food to Devas, Pitris, and Brahmins in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats food as sacred and says consuming it without first making due offerings violates dharma and creates serious demerit, linked to degraded outcomes.

How does this verse connect actions in life to consequences after death?

It frames obstruction of yajña, dāna, and vivāha—and neglect of offerings—as sins that ripen into painful or low rebirth states, a core Garuda Purana theme in karma and post-death results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not hinder others’ religious rites, charity, or marriages; cultivate annadāna and gratitude by offering/setting aside food respectfully (as per one’s tradition) before eating.