Shloka 43

Devanagari script

बिल्वोदुम्बरमश्वत्थं वटं पालाशमेव च / यज्ञायज्ञेति मन्त्रेण दद्यात्पञ्चकषायकम्

Transliteration

bilvodumbaramaśvatthaṃ vaṭaṃ pālāśameva ca / yajñāyajñeti mantreṇa dadyātpañcakaṣāyakam

Translation

En los ritos de sacrificio y de ofrenda a los antepasados, ofrézcanse las cinco hojas sagradas y astringentes—bilva, udumbara, aśvattha, vaṭa y pālāśa—recitando el mantra «yajñāyajñe».

Word by Word

• बिल्व: bael (wood/plant)
• बिल्व: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• उदुम्बरम्: udumbara (fig)
• उदुम्बरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदुम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगानुसार), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अश्वत्थम्: aśvattha (peepal)
• अश्वत्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वटम्: banyan
• वटम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पालाशम्: palāśa (Butea)
• पालाशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पालाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगानुसार), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यज्ञायज्ञ: “yajña and ayajña” (as mantra words)
• यज्ञायज्ञ: None
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + अयज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (यज्ञः च अयज्ञः च); मन्त्रपदत्वेन अव्ययवत् उद्धृतम्

• इति: thus
• इति: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give/apply
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पञ्चकषायकम्: fivefold decoction
• पञ्चकषायकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + कषायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (पञ्चानां कषायकानां समाहारः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During yajña and pitṛ-kārya/śrāddha performance as prescribed in the rite sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dravya-niyama in rites: specific natural substances embody ritual fitness (yogyatā) and continuity of tradition in yajña and pitṛ offerings.

Vedantic Theme: Ṛta/dharma as harmonizing human action with cosmic order; sattva cultivated through regulated worship.

Application: When performing worship/ancestral remembrance, use ethically sourced, clean natural materials; preserve sacred trees and avoid harming living groves for ritual convenience.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: groves/temple precincts; village sacred trees

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48 (snāna/dravya-vidhi sequence); Garuda Purana śrāddha sections where leaf/kuśa/til dravya are specified (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of pañcakaṣāya (five astringent leaves) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes offering five specific sacred tree-leaves as a ritual component in yajña/śrāddha contexts, indicating their purificatory and dharmic role in ancestor-related offerings.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on post-death rites?

By detailing a concrete offering procedure and mantra-use, it supports the broader Garuda Purana framework that proper śrāddha and related rites aid the departed and uphold obligations to the Pitṛs.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or memorial offerings, follow tradition carefully—use prescribed materials (where available) and recite mantras with intention, emphasizing reverence, purity, and duty to ancestors.