Shloka 121

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

Devanagari script

सर्वकर्मविधाने एकैकाग्रे समाहितः / तोयव्रीहियवान्दद्याद्गोधूमांश्च प्रियङ्गवः

Transliteration

sarvakarmavidhāne ekaikāgre samāhitaḥ / toyavrīhiyavāndadyādgodhūmāṃśca priyaṅgavaḥ

Translation

In the proper performance of all rites, one should remain composed with one-pointed attention; and one should offer water, rice, barley, wheat, and priyaṅgu grain.

Word by Word

• सर्व-कर्म-विधाने: in the procedure of all rites
• सर्व-कर्म-विधाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वेषां कर्मणां विधानम्’

• एक-एक-अग्रे: with one-pointed focus (at each step)
• एक-एक-अग्रे: Adhikarana (State/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘एकैकम् अग्रं (स्थानम्/बिन्दु) यस्मिन्’ → ‘at each single point/one-pointed’ (adverbial locative)

• समाहितः: collected, attentive
• समाहितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तोय-व्रीहि-यवान्: water, rice, and barley (as offerings)
• तोय-व्रीहि-यवान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रीहि (प्रातिपदिक) + यव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—(तोय + व्रीहि + यव) इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः; रूपम् ‘-आन्’ (अकारान्त पुं. द्वि. बहु.)

• दद्यात्: should give/offer
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• गोधूमान्: wheat grains
• गोधूमान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोधूम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रियङ्गवः: priyaṅgu grains (panic seed)
• प्रियङ्गवः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रियङ्गु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; (प्रियङ्गु-शब्दस्य बहुवचन-रूपम्)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy rests on ekāgratā (single-pointed attention) and correct dravya (water and staple grains) in the performance of prescribed rites.

Vedantic Theme: Sattvic simplicity and collected mind purify karma; attention (citta-ekāgratā) is the inner yajña.

Application: When performing śrāddha/tarpana-related acts, keep distractions away, follow procedure, and offer the specified staples (toya, vrīhi, yava, godhūma, priyaṅgu) with steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-offering space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.120 (qualifications: purity, dharma, faith); Garuda Purana 2.4.117 (tarpana materials and mantra)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of one-pointed attention in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse states that rites should be done with a collected, single-pointed mind, implying that mental steadiness is part of the ritual’s correctness, not only the external materials.

How does this verse relate to śrāddha and help for the departed?

By prescribing specific offering-substances (water and grains), the verse supports the śrāddha framework where properly offered dravya is directed to the Pitṛs and the preta’s welfare through ordained rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or any sacred duty, keep distractions away and offer simple, traditional items sincerely—prioritizing focus, cleanliness, and faithful observance.