Shloka 16

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

संभोज्यातिथिभृत्यांश्च दम्पत्योः शेषभोजनम् / प्राणाग्निहोत्रविधिनाश्रीयादन्नमकुत्सयन्

Transliteration

saṃbhojyātithibhṛtyāṃśca dampatyoḥ śeṣabhojanam / prāṇāgnihotravidhināśrīyādannamakutsayan

Translation

After feeding guests and servants, husband and wife should partake of the remaining food. One should accept food according to the rite of prāṇāgnihotra (offering into the life-breaths), never despising or disparaging the food.

Word by Word

• संभोज्य: having fed/after feeding
• संभोज्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + भुज् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त, अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• अतिथीन्: guests
• अतिथीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भृत्यान्: servants/dependents
• भृत्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दम्पत्योः: of the husband and wife
• दम्पत्योः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्पती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (युग्म-शब्द), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन

• शेषभोजनम्: the remaining food (leftover meal)
• शेषभोजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (अत्र कर्मरूपेण)

• प्राणाग्निहोत्रविधिना: by the rule of the prāṇa-agnihotra (vital-fire offering)
• प्राणाग्निहोत्रविधिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण + अग्निहोत्र + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• आश्रीयात्: should partake/should take (as refuge/should consume)
• आश्रीयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + श्रि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

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

• अकुत्सयन्: not despising (it)
• अकुत्सयन्: Hetu/Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुत्स् (धातु) + अ (नञ्-उपसर्ग/निषेध) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (while not despising)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Feed guests and servants first; spouses eat the remainder; accept food as an offering to the life-breaths, without disparagement.

Vedantic Theme: Seeing prāṇa as sacred instrument; cultivating non-disdain (akutsana) reduces rajas/tamas and supports sattva for inner clarity.

Application: Serve guests and those who work in the household before oneself; eat mindfully with a brief prāṇa-offering attitude; avoid complaining about taste/quality; practice gratitude.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: household dining space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96.15-19 (bhojana-dharma sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of prāṇāgnihotra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames eating as a sacred act: food is first ‘offered’ to the life-breaths (prāṇas) through mindful, rule-based consumption, turning a daily meal into a dharmic rite.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader dharma teachings?

It emphasizes social and spiritual order: serve dependents and guests first, then eat without contempt for food—linking hospitality, gratitude, and self-discipline as core household dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Feed others first when responsible for them, eat mindfully, and avoid wasting or insulting food—treat meals with gratitude and restraint.