Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

वृथा कृसरसंयाव पायसापूपशष्कुलीः / कुररं जालपादं च खञ्जरीटमृगद्विजान्

Transliteration

vṛthā kṛsarasaṃyāva pāyasāpūpaśaṣkulīḥ / kuraraṃ jālapādaṃ ca khañjarīṭamṛgadvijān

Translation

In vain are offerings such as kṛsara, saṃyāva, pāyasa, apūpa, and śaṣkulī; likewise, in vain are offerings of birds and beasts such as the kurara, the jālapāda, the khañjarīṭa, and deer and other twice-born birds.

Word by Word

• वृथा: in vain; uselessly
• वृथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• कृसर: kṛsara (a rice/khichdi dish)
• कृसर: Viśeṣya (Head member in compound/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem used in compound)

• रस: juice; essence; liquid
• रस: Viśeṣaṇa-aṅga (Qualifier member in compound/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem used in compound)

• संयाव: (collectively) kṛsara, ras(a), and saṃyāva (a sweet preparation)
• संयाव: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्व; कृसर+रस+संयाव = one collective item)

• पायस: rice-milk; pudding
• पायस: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem used in compound)

• आपूप: cake; fried bread
• आपूप: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem used in compound)

• शष्कुलीः: śaṣkulīs (fried pastries) (together with pāyasa and āpūpa)
• शष्कुलीः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शष्कुली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्व: पायस+आपूप+शष्कुलीः = collective list as objects)

• कुररम्: kurara (a bird, osprey/eagle-like)
• कुररम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जाल: net; web
• जाल: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem used in compound)

• पादम्: jālapāda (a net-footed bird)
• पादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जालस्य पादः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/coordination particle)

• खञ्जरीट: khañjarīṭa (a bird, wagtail-like)
• खञ्जरीट: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खञ्जरीट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem used in compound)

• मृग: deer; wild animal
• मृग: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem used in compound)

• द्विजान्: birds (and, in a list, khañjarīṭa, deer, and dvijas)
• द्विजान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (खञ्जरीट+मृग+द्विजान् = various beings)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain offerings/foods are declared ineffective (‘vṛthā’)—ritual efficacy depends on dharmic suitability and purity, not mere abundance.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa limitation: external acts without proper dharmic alignment do not yield intended phala.

Application: Avoid presenting or relying on prohibited/ineffective food items in rites; prioritize śāstra-approved offerings and sāttvika discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96.71-73 (dietary faults, expiation, and consequences); Garuda Purana 1.95-96 (contextual dietary/śrāddha purity rules, if in same section)

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding certain offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that some foods and certain animal/bird offerings are considered vṛthā (fruitless), emphasizing that śrāddha should follow prescribed items so the rite yields spiritual benefit.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, correct śrāddha and pinda-related observances support the departed’s post-death transition; fruitless offerings fail to provide the intended ritual support.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or memorial rites, follow traditional prescriptions (as per family śākhā/ācāra and qualified guidance) rather than improvised foods or animal offerings.