Shloka 120

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

जितेन्द्रियमना भूत्वा शुचिष्मान्धर्मतत्परः / भक्त्या तत्र प्रकुर्वीत श्राद्धान्येकादशैव तु

Transliteration

jitendriyamanā bhūtvā śuciṣmāndharmatatparaḥ / bhaktyā tatra prakurvīta śrāddhānyekādaśaiva tu

Translation

Having mastered the senses and steadied the mind—being pure and devoted to dharma—one should, with faith, perform there the śrāddha rites, eleven in number.

Word by Word

• जित-इन्द्रिय-मनाः: one who has conquered senses and mind
• जित-इन्द्रिय-मनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (प्रातिपदिक; जि धातोः क्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘जितानि इन्द्रियाणि (येन), (जितं) मनः (येन)’; रूपम् ‘मनाः’ (मनस्-शब्दस्य प्रथमा एकवचन)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• शुचिष्मान्: pure/clean
• शुचिष्मान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचिष्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• धर्म-तत्परः: devoted to dharma
• धर्म-तत्परः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘धर्मे तत्परः’

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• प्रकुर्वीत: should perform
• प्रकुर्वीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• श्राद्धानि: śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धानि: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• एकादश: eleven
• एकादश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकादश (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (श्राद्धानि इत्यस्य)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic/only)

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Eligibility and efficacy of śrāddha depend on self-control, mental steadiness, purity, and dharma-orientation, performed with bhakti/śraddhā.

Vedantic Theme: Karma purified by sattva and devotion becomes a support for inner clarity; outer rite mirrors inner restraint.

Application: Prepare for śrāddha by observing cleanliness, moderating senses, steadying attention, and performing the prescribed set (here: eleven) with sincere faith.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: prescribed śrāddha setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.121 (one-pointedness and offerings); Garuda Purana 2.4.117-119 (tarpana and Vishnu-centered remembrance)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of performing eleven śrāddhas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the śrāddha sequence as a dharmic duty to be performed with purity, self-control, and devotion—emphasizing that the rites are not optional formalities but a prescribed set (eleven) meant to be completed properly.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, śrāddha and related offerings support the departed during the preta phase; the verse highlights the required inner discipline (purity, sense-control, faith) that makes these rites effective within the post-death framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach ancestral rites (or any sacred duty) with cleanliness, restraint, and sincere intention—prioritizing correct conduct and devotion over mere outward performance.