Shloka 73

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

एकं तु भोजयेद्विप्रं पितॄनुद्दिश्य सत्तमाः / नित्यश्राद्धं तदुद्दिश्य पितृयज्ञो गतिप्रदः

Transliteration

ekaṃ tu bhojayedvipraṃ pitṝnuddiśya sattamāḥ / nityaśrāddhaṃ taduddiśya pitṛyajño gatipradaḥ

Translation

The best among the virtuous should feed even a single brāhmaṇa, dedicating it to the Pitṛs. Performed as a daily śrāddha for their sake, that act is the Pitṛ-yajña, and it grants the ancestors a благотворный onward course.

Word by Word

• एकम्: one (person)
• एकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु) [causative: भोजय-]
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त (causative) धातु; विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विप्रम्: a Brahmin
• विप्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पितॄन्: the ancestors (manes)
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• उद्दिश्य: having intended/addressed (in honor of)
• उद्दिश्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ud-diś (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (gerund), क्रियाविशेषण

• सत्तमाः: the best people/the virtuous
• सत्तमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + tama (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे/कर्तरि प्रयोगः (contextual)

• नित्यश्राद्धम्: the daily śrāddha
• नित्यश्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक) + śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (नित्यं श्राद्धम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (श्राद्धम्)

• उद्दिश्य: having dedicated (to)
• उद्दिश्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ud-diś (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• पितृयज्ञः: ancestor-sacrifice (pitṛ-yajña)
• पितृयज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पितॄणां यज्ञः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गतिप्रदः: granting a good course/destination
• गतिप्रदः: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (गतिं प्रददाति इति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: nitya (daily)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Daily śrāddha by feeding even one brāhmaṇa, dedicated to Pitṛs, constitutes pitṛyajña and bestows gati (beneficial onward course).

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṅkalpa: intention consecrates action; gratitude to lineage supports dharmic continuity while purifying the doer.

Application: If resources are limited, perform a simple daily act of feeding/donation with explicit pitṛ-saṅkalpa; maintain remembrance and ethical living as pitṛ-ṛṇa repayment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household dining/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-kalpa themes: pitṛ-gati through śrāddha and feeding (broad internal alignment)

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛ-yajña (śrāddha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that even feeding a single brāhmaṇa with the intention of the Pitṛs becomes Pitṛ-yajña and grants them gati—supporting their onward welfare.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or ancestors after death?

By emphasizing “gati-pradaḥ,” it links śrāddha (done with proper intention) to the ancestors’ progress and stability in their post-death condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep the practice simple but sincere: offer food/charity in the name of ancestors (ideally via a worthy brāhmaṇa or equivalent sacred giving), maintaining regular remembrance and dharmic conduct.