Shloka 15

The Narrative of the Five Pretas

Eligibility for rites and jīvac-chrāddha procedure

Devanagari script

तयोर्मध्ये तु निः क्षिप्य विप्रान्संमन्त्र्य भो जयेत् / प्रथमामुत्तरे न्यस्य द्वितीयां दक्षिणे न्यसेत्

Transliteration

tayormadhye tu niḥ kṣipya viprānsaṃmantrya bho jayet / prathamāmuttare nyasya dvitīyāṃ dakṣiṇe nyaset

Translation

Placing it between the two (ritual vessels/offerings), one should consult the brāhmaṇas and then feed them. The first is to be set to the north, and the second is to be placed to the south.

Word by Word

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; 'of those two'

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the middle)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• निः: out/forth
• निः: Verb-modifier (उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निः (उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपसर्ग (preverb)

• क्षिप्य: having placed/thrown
• क्षिप्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), 'having thrown/placed'

• विप्रान्: Brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• सं-मन्त्र्य: having addressed/invoked
• सं-मन्त्र्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), 'having consulted/invited with mantras'

• भो: O!
• भो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भो (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• जयेत्: should proceed/perform
• जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; here in ritual sense 'should cause to be victorious/should proceed'

• प्रथमाम्: the first (one)
• प्रथमाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण

• उत्तरे: to the north/upper side
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; दिशावाचक (in the north/upper side)

• न्यस्य: having placed
• न्यस्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-आस्/न्यस् (धातु; √अस्/√न्यस् in sense 'to place')
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), 'having placed'

• द्वितीयाम्: the second (one)
• द्वितीयाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण

• दक्षिणे: on the south/right side
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; दिशावाचक (on the south/right side)

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-आस्/न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; 'should place'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After oblations; during arrangement and brāhmaṇa-bhojana phase

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha efficacy depends on correct placement and learned guidance (vipra-sammantraṇa) and culminates in brāhmaṇa-bhojana.

Vedantic Theme: Sevā and dāna as purifying karma; honoring knowledge-bearers sustains dharma and transforms ritual into ethical action.

Application: Follow competent priestly guidance; arrange offerings by prescribed directions (first north, second south) and complete the rite by feeding qualified brāhmaṇas.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: household ritual space with directional layout

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.8 (placement rules; brāhmaṇa-bhojana as completion step)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas (Vipras)

FAQs

What is the importance of feeding brāhmaṇas in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse treats brāhmaṇa-bhojana as an integral step of the rite: after arranging the ritual items correctly, one should consult competent brāhmaṇas and feed them, thereby completing the prescribed śrāddha/antyeṣṭi duty in a dharmic way.

Why does the verse specify placing the first to the north and the second to the south?

Directional placement (north/south) is part of ritual order and sanctification in śrāddha contexts; the verse emphasizes that correct spatial arrangement of offerings accompanies the proper performance of post-death rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related observances, follow a qualified priest’s guidance, keep the ritual orderly (including directional setup where applicable), and prioritize respectful feeding/charity as a core expression of duty and remembrance.