Shloka 21

Devotpatti-nirūpaṇa — Hari’s Pūrṇatva

Completeness) and the Ritual Doctrine of Sāra (Essence

Devanagari script

मासस्यानन्तरं वीन्द्र त्वसारं पनसं स्मृतम् / षण्मासानन्तरं वीन्द्र खर्जूरं तिक्तवत्स्मृतम्

Transliteration

māsasyānantaraṃ vīndra tvasāraṃ panasaṃ smṛtam / ṣaṇmāsānantaraṃ vīndra kharjūraṃ tiktavatsmṛtam

Translation

O Vīndra, best of birds, after one month the panasa (jackfruit) is remembered as becoming insipid; and after six months, O Vīndra, the kharjūra (date) is likewise remembered as turning bitter in taste.

Word by Word

• māsasya: of a month
• māsasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन

• anantaram: after
• anantaram: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे प्रयुक्तम् (used adverbially): ‘after’

• vīndra: O lord of heroes
• vīndra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; ‘वीराणाम् इन्द्रः’

• tu: then/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• asāram: insubstantial
• asāram: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here predicate with ‘panasam’ (neuter)

• panasam: jackfruit
• panasam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: panasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• smṛtam: is said
• smṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ + ta (धातु + कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is said’

• ṣaṇ-māsa-anantaram: after six months
• ṣaṇ-māsa-anantaram: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ṣaṭ + māsa + anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘षण्मासस्य अनन्तरम्’ = after six months

• vīndra: O lord of heroes
• vīndra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• kharjūram: date (fruit)
• kharjūram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kharjūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tiktavat: bitterish; having bitterness
• tiktavat: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tiktavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘-वत्’ (possessive) = having bitterness; predicate qualifier of ‘kharjūram’

• smṛtam: is said
• smṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ + ta (धातु + कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: Jackfruit: after one month becomes asāra; dates: after six months become bitter/unsuitable.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla (elapsed time) alters dravya-guṇa; offerings must match prescribed freshness to retain sāra.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya and pariṇāma (change) in prakṛti; dharma requires attentiveness to changing conditions.

Application: Avoid offering jackfruit after a month; avoid offering dates after six months if bitterness indicates loss of sāra.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.14.20, 3.14.22-24 (same list of offering time-limits)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of food quality and timing in Garuda Purana Shraddha instructions?

This verse stresses that offerings are time-sensitive: certain fruits lose their proper taste/quality after specific periods, implying they become unsuitable or less effective for prescribed ritual use.

How does this verse fit into the Garuda–Vishnu dialogue about post-death rites?

Vishnu instructs Garuda on practical details of ritual provisions, indicating that correct materials (and their condition over time) matter in rites connected with the preta’s welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use fresh, appropriate offerings for ancestral rites and avoid stale or degraded items—treating ritual charity and food-giving as careful, respectful acts.