Shloka 56

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

निधाय वरुणं देवमन्तर्धाय स्ववेश्मनि / भक्षयेन्निम्बपत्राणि घृतं प्राश्य गृहं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

nidhāya varuṇaṃ devamantardhāya svaveśmani / bhakṣayennimbapatrāṇi ghṛtaṃ prāśya gṛhaṃ vrajet

Translation

Having installed (invoked) the god Varuṇa and then ritually dismissed him within one’s own dwelling, one should eat neem leaves; after sipping clarified butter (ghee), one should return home.

Word by Word

• निधाय: having placed
• निधाय: Kriya-viseshana (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी-धातु; अव्ययभावेन क्रियाविशेषणम् (having placed)

• वरुणम्: Varuṇa
• वरुणम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वरुणम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण-भावः (appositional)

• अन्तर्धाय: having concealed/hidden
• अन्तर्धाय: Kriya-viseshana (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्तर्-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• स्ववेश्मनि: in one’s own house
• स्ववेश्मनि: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य वेश्मनि)

• भक्षयेत्: should eat
• भक्षयेत्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• निम्बपत्राणि: neem leaves
• निम्बपत्राणि: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निम्ब + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (निम्बस्य पत्राणि)

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राश्य: having eaten/partaken
• प्राश्य: Kriya-viseshana (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-अश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• गृहम्: home
• गृहम्: Karma (Goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गन्तव्य-देशः

• व्रजेत्: should go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after concluding a domestic rite connected to the departed; before resuming household routine

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca and niyama after death-related rites: controlled ritual invocation, proper dismissal, and bodily purification through bitter neem and ghee.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as preparatory discipline: external purity supporting inner steadiness (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi).

Application: After completing the rite, formally conclude the deity-invocation, take simple purificatory intake (neem, ghee) and re-enter household life without carrying ritual impurity or agitation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: household shrine/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: post-cremation śauca and offerings to the departed (contextual sequence around 2.15.57–60)

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Deva

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Varuna in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, Varuṇa is invoked and then ritually dismissed as part of a controlled, dharmic procedure—signaling completion of a rite and restoring normal household order.

How does this verse explain the role of purification in Garuda Purana practices?

It pairs the conclusion of a deity-focused act (installation and dismissal) with simple purificatory consumptions—neem leaves and ghee—indicating that ritual closure includes bodily and symbolic cleansing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Complete any religious observance with proper closure (respectful dismissal and calm transition), and adopt a mindful, sattvic approach to post-ritual conduct—cleanliness, moderation, and disciplined routine.