Shloka 97

Devatā-Pratiṣṭhā: Maṇḍapa Construction, Dikpāla Worship, Kalaśa-Abhiṣeka, Nyāsa and Homa Procedures

Devanagari script

पात्रं वस्त्रयुगं छत्रं तथा दिव्याङ्गुलीयकम् / ऋत्त्विग्भ्यश्च प्रदातव्या दक्षिणा चैव शक्तितः

Transliteration

pātraṃ vastrayugaṃ chatraṃ tathā divyāṅgulīyakam / ṛttvigbhyaśca pradātavyā dakṣiṇā caiva śaktitaḥ

Translation

One should offer a vessel, a pair of garments, an umbrella, and a fine ring; and one should also give dakṣiṇā (priestly fees) to the officiating ṛtvij, according to one’s capacity.

Word by Word

• पात्रम्: vessel, receptacle
• पात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular)

• वस्त्रयुगम्: a pair of garments
• वस्त्रयुगम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वस्त्राणां युगम्)

• छत्रम्: umbrella
• छत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• तथा: and also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connective/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (indeclinable; connective/also)

• दिव्याङ्गुलीयकम्: a divine ring
• दिव्याङ्गुलीयकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुलीयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); कर्मधारय (दिव्यम् अङ्गुलीयकम्)

• ऋत्त्विग्भ्यः: to the priests (ṛtviks)
• ऋत्त्विग्भ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Dative, Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connective/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• प्रदातव्या: should be given
• प्रदातव्या: Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom, Singular); विधेय-भाव: ‘to be given/should be given’

• दक्षिणा: the sacrificial fee (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connective/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, certainly
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

• शक्तितः: according to one’s capacity
• शक्तितः: Adhikarana (Circumstance/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb); ‘according to ability’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dakṣiṇā and dāna to ṛtviks as an essential limb of yajña, proportionate to one’s śakti (capacity).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: offering without miserliness, aligning action with dharma and gratitude.

Application: Support officiants/teachers fairly; give within means but with sincerity; treat ritual/service compensation as sacred duty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-venue (yajna-mandapa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48 (yajña-vidhi/dakṣiṇā context)

Characters & Entities

• Ṛtviks (officiating priests)
• Dakṣiṇā (ritual fee)

FAQs

What is the importance of dakṣiṇā (priestly fee) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dakṣiṇā as a dharmic completion of the rite—honoring the ṛtviks and supporting the ritual act—done in proportion to one’s means.

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

It lists standard ritual gifts (dāna) and emphasizes giving to officiating priests, aligning with the text’s broader instruction that proper offerings support the intended rite and its merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform rites without ostentation: offer essential items and compensate priests fairly, choosing the scale of giving responsibly “according to capacity.”