Shloka 4

Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

क्रीतलब्धाशनाः सर्वे स्वपेयुस्ते पृथक्पृथक् / अक्षारलवणान्नाः स्युर्निमज्जेयुश्च ते त्र्यहम्

Transliteration

krītalabdhāśanāḥ sarve svapeyuste pṛthakpṛthak / akṣāralavaṇānnāḥ syurnimajjeyuśca te tryaham

Translation

All of them, obtaining their food only by purchase, should sleep each one separately. Their fare should be without alkaline seasoning and without salt, and they should remain immersed in water for three days.

Word by Word

• क्रीतलब्धाशनाः: having food bought/obtained
• क्रीतलब्धाशनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीत (कृदन्त, क्त; √क्री) + लब्ध (कृदन्त, क्त; √लभ्) + अशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); बहुपद-समास (having food bought/obtained)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्वपेयुः: should sleep
• स्वपेयुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Avyaya (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पृथक्: each separately
• पृथक्: Avyaya (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis)

• अक्षारलवणान्नाः: eating food without alkali (kṣāra) but with salt
• अक्षारलवणान्नाः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-क्षार (प्रातिपदिक) + लवण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); नञ्-समास (without alkali) + तत्पुरुष (with salt)

• स्युः: should be
• स्युः: Kriya (Copula/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• निमज्जेयुः: should bathe/immerse
• निमज्जेयुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• त्र्यहम्: for three days
• त्र्यहम्: Karma (Extent/परिमाण-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अहन्/अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); कालपरिमाण (duration)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Early śauca days; includes a three-day purification regimen (tridinam)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: During impurity, one lives with restraint: minimal diet, separation, and purificatory bathing; dependence on purchased food reduces household cooking/ritual contamination.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline of the senses (indriya-nigraha) as a support for sattva and clarity amid impermanence.

Application: During mourning observances, simplify diet (avoid strong seasonings), reduce comforts, maintain personal boundaries, and follow prescribed bathing/purification routines.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: domestic + river/pond bathing site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śauca dietary and conduct restrictions (contextual continuation)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of saltless food and restraint in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse frames restraint as a deliberate austerity: simple, unsalted food and separation support ritual purity and disciplined observance during a prescribed period.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Preta Kanda context?

By emphasizing regulated conduct (food rules, seclusion, and a fixed three-day period), the verse reflects the structured transitional phase often described in Preta Kanda discussions of post-death rites and purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt mindful restraint during sacred observances—simple diet, reduced indulgence, and focused conduct—so ritual acts are performed with clarity, discipline, and sincerity.