Shloka 36

Devanagari script

नैवेद्यं विविधं दत्त्वा कुसुमादेर्बलिं हरेत् / अग्निं संतर्प्य तत्रापि द्वादशाङ्गुलमानतः

Transliteration

naivedyaṃ vividhaṃ dattvā kusumāderbaliṃ haret / agniṃ saṃtarpya tatrāpi dvādaśāṅgulamānataḥ

Translation

Having offered a variety of naivedya (food-offerings), one should then present a bali of flowers and the like. There too, having satisfied the sacred fire Agni, the rite should be performed with a measure of twelve finger-breadths.

Word by Word

• नैवेद्यम्: food offering (naivedya)
• नैवेद्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• विविधम्: various, diverse
• विविधम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन — विशेषण

• दत्त्वा: having offered/given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकाले कृत्य — ‘having given’

• कुसुमादेः: of flowers and the like
• कुसुमादेः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन — ‘कुसुम-आदि’ (of flowers etc.)

• बलिम्: offering, oblation
• बलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• हरेत्: should take/offer
• हरेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘he should take/offer’

• अग्निम्: the fire
• अग्निम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• संतर्प्य: having satisfied (the fire)
• संतर्प्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्√तृप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकाले कृत्य — ‘having satisfied/propitiated’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb of place)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: also/even)

• द्वादशाङ्गुलमानतः: to the measure of twelve finger-breadths
• द्वादशाङ्गुलमानतः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययभावे तसिल् (ablatival adverbial) — ‘मानेन’/‘परिमाणतः’; समासः ‘द्वादश-अङ्गुल-मान’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct sequence: naivedya, then bali, then satisfying agni, with prescribed measures.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa discipline as a means to citta-śuddhi; order and measure reflect ṛta-like harmony.

Application: In any sacred routine, follow a clear order and measurable discipline; avoid improvisation that breaks the intended structure of the rite.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual altar/vedi with agni

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.43 (naivedya/bali/agni steps in pūjā-krama)

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of naivedya and bali in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse places naivedya (food offering) first and then bali (offerings like flowers), indicating a structured sequence of offerings to complete the rite correctly.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals or śrāddha practices?

By prescribing offerings and the propitiation of Agni with specific measurements, it reflects the Purāṇic emphasis on precise ritual performance, which is central to śrāddha and related observances described in Garuda Purana.

What is a practical application of this instruction today?

Follow a clear order in worship—offer food respectfully, then supplementary offerings (flowers, etc.), and keep ritual measurements and steps consistent as per one’s tradition and qualified guidance.