Shloka 21

Devanagari script

यः कश्चिन्मानुषे लोके श्रवणान्पूजयेदिह / वर्धन्या जलपात्रेम पक्वान्नपरिपूर्णया

Transliteration

yaḥ kaścinmānuṣe loke śravaṇānpūjayediha / vardhanyā jalapātrema pakvānnaparipūrṇayā

Translation

Whoever, in the human world, honours the Śravaṇas here by offering a water-vessel filled with an abundance of cooked food, obtains the fruit of that rite.

Word by Word

• यः: who (he)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun; masc. nom. sg.)

• कश्चित्: someone; anyone
• कश्चित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun; masc. nom. sg.)

• मानुषे: in the human
• मानुषे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (loc. sg., adjective)

• लोके: world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (loc. sg.)

• श्रवणान्: (the) Śravaṇas (name/class of beings)
• श्रवणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (acc. pl.)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (optative, 3rd sg.)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• वर्धन्या: with a (ritual) vessel/bowl (vardhanī)
• वर्धन्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्धनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (instr. sg.)

• जलपात्रेण: with a water-vessel
• जलपात्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (jalasya pātram) (instr. sg.)

• इम: this
• इम: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (acc. sg.)

• पक्वान्नपरिपूर्णया: filled with cooked food
• पक्वान्नपरिपूर्णया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पक्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + परिपूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (pakvam annam yena sā paripūrṇā) — ‘filled with cooked food’ (instr. sg., adjective agreeing with वर्धन्या/जलपात्रेण as instrument phrase)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Auspicious occasion of honoring (context-dependent; can align with śrāddha-like feeding/anna-dāna days)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Honoring the Śravaṇas through offering water-vessel and abundant cooked food yields spiritual fruit; devotion expressed as attentive honoring and feeding.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti expressed through sevā and anna-dāna; śravaṇa (sacred listening) as a gateway practice that purifies mind.

Application: Practice respectful listening to sacred teaching and support it materially (food/water offerings, hospitality to devotees/teachers); cultivate generosity with simplicity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: human realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śrāddha/anna-dāna praises and the efficacy of offerings; emphasis on śravaṇa (listening) as a devotional limb in various didactic sections

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Śravaṇas

FAQs

What is the importance of offering water and cooked food in Garuda Purana rites?

This verse highlights that honouring the Śravaṇas through a water-vessel and plentiful cooked food is a meritorious act, aligning with śrāddha-style support through anna (food) and udaka (water).

How does this verse connect to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, offerings of food and water are taught as supportive rites for the departed (preta), ensuring ritual continuity and merit that aids the post-death transition described in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha or remembrance rites with sincerity—offer clean water and food as per tradition, and cultivate generosity (dāna) and respect for ancestral duties.