Shloka 20

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

प्रयोगविधिना ब्रह्मा विश्वं चाप्युपजीवनाम् / अपसव्यादितो ब्रह्मा पितरो देवदेवताः

Transliteration

prayogavidhinā brahmā viśvaṃ cāpyupajīvanām / apasavyādito brahmā pitaro devadevatāḥ

Translation

Por el método correcto de la aplicación ritual, Brahmā puso en movimiento y sostiene el universo y los medios de sustento. Comenzando con el rito apasavya (hacia la izquierda) están Brahmā, los Pitṛ (ancestros) y las deidades que presiden sobre los dioses.

Word by Word

• प्रयोगविधिना: by the prescribed procedure of performance
• प्रयोगविधिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोग (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रयोगस्य विधिः)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (particle)

• उपजीवनाम्: of the means of livelihood / subsistence
• उपजीवनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपजीव (धातु) + अन (प्रत्यय) → उपजीवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• अपसव्यादितः: beginning with the apasavya (leftward) rite
• अपसव्यादितः: Adhikarana (Adverbial locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपसव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदितः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverbial), अर्थः ‘अपसव्यतः आदितः’ = beginning from the apasavya (leftward)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• पितरः: the Pitṛs (ancestors)
• पितरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• देवदेवताः: the divine deities (gods)
• देवदेवताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (देवाः एव देवताः)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During pitṛ-karmas/śrāddha where apasavya is prescribed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on proper vidhi (application/method), aligning human action with cosmic functioning and pitṛ-devatā order.

Vedantic Theme: ṛta/dharma as the sustaining principle; karma-kāṇḍa as a preparatory purifier supporting higher realization.

Application: In pitṛ-karmas, observe correct upavīta orientation (apasavya) and prescribed sequence; treat ritual method as non-optional for intended phala.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.21-24 (darbha placements; non-remnant sancta; five conveyances)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Pitris
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of apasavya (leftward rite) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links apasavya with Pitṛ-related ritual orientation, indicating that specific rites for ancestors follow a distinct procedural direction and method, not arbitrary custom.

How does this verse connect ritual method (prayoga-vidhi) with cosmic order?

It presents correct ritual procedure as part of the sustaining order established by Brahmā—suggesting that dharmic rites, including ancestral rites, align human action with cosmic regulation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or related ancestral observances, follow an authentic prayoga (procedure) from a reliable tradition/teacher, treating details like orientation and sequence as meaningful components of dharma.