Shloka 7

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

मृन्मये पत्रजे वापि भुञ्जीरंस्ते च भाजने / उवासन्तु ते कुर्युरेकाहमथ वा त्र्यहम्

Transliteration

mṛnmaye patraje vāpi bhuñjīraṃste ca bhājane / uvāsantu te kuryurekāhamatha vā tryaham

Translation

Let them eat from an earthen vessel, or even from a plate made of leaves; and let them remain there, performing the observance for one day, or else for three days.

Word by Word

• मृन्मये: in an earthen (vessel)
• मृन्मये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृन्मय (प्रातिपदिक) < मृद् + मय (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘मृन्मय’ (earthen)

• पत्रजे: in a leaf-made (vessel/plate)
• पत्रजे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत्रज (प्रातिपदिक) < पत्र + ज (कृत्/प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘पत्रज’ (leaf-made)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• भुञ्जीरन्: let them eat
• भुञ्जीरन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; √भुज्—‘to eat/enjoy’

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्य), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम—‘they’

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

• भाजने: in a vessel
• भाजने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• उवासन्तु: let them stay
• उवासन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु) उपसर्ग: उप-
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उप+√वस्—‘to dwell/stay’

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्य), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• कुर्युः: they should do/observe
• कुर्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विध्यर्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• एकाहम्: for one day
• एकाहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकाह (प्रातिपदिक) < एक + अहन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration)

• अथ: then/otherwise
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/प्रस्तावार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• त्र्यहम्: for three days
• त्र्यहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्र्यह (प्रातिपदिक) < त्रि + अहन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: One day or three days (observance duration)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca through regulated conduct—simplicity of utensils and fixed duration of observance.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as citta-śuddhi (purificatory discipline supporting inner clarity).

Application: During impurity/observance periods, use simple disposable/earthen utensils and follow the prescribed one- or three-day regimen without indulgence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual residence

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Preta-kalpa/Śrāddha sections on āśauca and post-rite restraints (contextual); Adjacent verses 2.5.8–2.5.11 on āśauca duration and purification

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of eating from earthen or leaf vessels in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes simplicity and ritual appropriateness in post-death observances—using clay or leaf utensils aligns with purity, non-attachment, and traditional śrāddha practice.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, correct observances around feeding and prescribed durations support orderly rites for the departed, which are described as aiding the transition through the post-death state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep death-rite observances sincere and simple—use clean, traditional, eco-friendly serving methods when appropriate, and follow the prescribed duration (one or three days) as per family/customary guidance.