Shloka 57

Devanagari script

वस्त्रेणाच्छादयित्वा तु पूजनीयः स्वभावतः / यथाशास्त्रं निवेद्यानि पादमूले तु दापयेत्

Transliteration

vastreṇācchādayitvā tu pūjanīyaḥ svabhāvataḥ / yathāśāstraṃ nivedyāni pādamūle tu dāpayet

Translation

Having covered (him) with a cloth, he should be honored, for by his very nature he is worthy of worship. According to the injunctions of the śāstras, the prescribed offerings (nivedya) should be placed at his feet.

Word by Word

• वस्त्रेण: with a cloth/garment
• वस्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• आच्छादयित्वा: having covered
• आच्छादयित्वा: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-छाद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having covered)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अनुक्रमार्थक

• पूजनीयः: worthy of worship
• पूजनीयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजनीय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पूज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अनीयर्-प्रत्यय (gerundive: 'to be worshipped')

• स्वभावतः: by nature
• स्वभावतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-अव्यय)
• Form: तद्धितान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• यथा-शास्त्रम्: according to the scripture
• यथा-शास्त्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (according to scripture)

• निवेद्यानि: offerings (things to be presented)
• निवेद्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवेद्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; नि-√विद्/√वेद् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive: 'things to be offered')

• पाद-मूले: at the foot/base (at the feet)
• पाद-मूले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादस्य मूलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• दापयेत्: should have (them) given/placed
• दापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) [णिच् causative: दापय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: 'should cause to give/offer')

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra, describing proper ritual conduct)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: श्राद्धकाले (अपराह्णे प्रायः) विध्यनुसारम्

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: शास्त्रविधिना सत्कारः—पूज्यस्य स्वभावतः पूजनीयत्वं, विनयेन अर्पणम्।

Vedantic Theme: ईश्वर/धर्मबुद्ध्या कर्मशुद्धिः; ‘अर्चन’ द्वारा चित्तशुद्धि।

Application: अतिथि/आचार्य/ब्राह्मण/श्राद्ध-प्रतिनिधिं स्वच्छवस्त्रेण सम्मानयेत्; अर्पणं पादमूले विनयेन, विधिपूर्वकं।

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (vedi/āsana vicinity)

Cross References

Related Themes: गरुडपुराण 1.48 (श्राद्ध/अन्त्येष्टि-क्रमविधि); गरुडपुराण प्रेतकल्पे ‘श्राद्धविधि’ प्रसङ्गाः (सामान्य)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering nivedya at the feet in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes śāstra-based pūjā: offerings are to be presented in a prescribed, respectful manner—symbolically placing them at the feet to express humility and proper honor.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it teaches correct ritual conduct (ācāra) and reverence, which the Purāṇa treats as part of dharma that supports auspicious outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing worship or honoring elders/teachers, follow an established procedure, maintain dignity and modesty (e.g., covering appropriately), and make offerings respectfully rather than casually.