Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

यस्मादन्नरसाः सर्वे नोत्कटा लवणं विना / पितॄणां च प्रियं भव्यं तस्मात्स्वर्गप्रदं भवेत्

Transliteration

yasmādannarasāḥ sarve notkaṭā lavaṇaṃ vinā / pitṝṇāṃ ca priyaṃ bhavyaṃ tasmātsvargapradaṃ bhavet

Translation

Parce que toutes les saveurs des aliments ne se déploient pas pleinement sans sel, et parce qu’il est agréable et cher aux Pitṛ (esprits des ancêtres), on dit donc que le sel confère le ciel (le mérite).

Word by Word

• यस्मात्: because of which/from which
• यस्मात्: Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• अन्नरसाः: tastes of food
• अन्नरसाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अन्नस्य रसाः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negative particle)

• उत्कटाः: strong/pungent
• उत्कटाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्कट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• लवणम्: salt
• लवणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Exclusion/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अपवर्जनार्थक अव्यय/उपपद (without); उपपदयोगे द्वितीया

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• प्रियम्: dear, pleasing
• प्रियम्: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण/नामरूपेण (dear/pleasing thing)

• भव्यम्: auspicious, proper
• भव्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (fit/auspicious)

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apādāna (Reason/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वर्गप्रदम्: granting heaven
• स्वर्गप्रदम्: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक); प्रद = प्र + दा (धातु) + क
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वर्गस्य प्रदम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भवेत्: would be/should become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Salt completes rasa (taste) and is pitṛ-priya; therefore its gifting/offering yields svarga-phala.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of ritual action and subtle results (adr̥ṣṭa-phala) within karma theory; honoring lineage as part of dharmic order.

Application: In śrāddha-adjacent hospitality and feeding, ensure offerings are complete and pleasing (including salt), cultivating gratitude toward ancestors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.30 (pāpa-kṣaya by dāna); Garuda Purana 2.2.32 (Vişṇu-origin of salt); Garuda Purana 2.2.34 (svarga-dvāra imagery)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of salt (lavaṇa) in Garuda Purana śrāddha rites?

This verse states that salt makes food’s taste complete and is especially pleasing to the Pitṛs; therefore, including it in offerings is treated as meritorious and “svarga-prada” (heaven-giving).

How does this verse connect offerings to the after-death journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, properly prepared offerings are taught as a means to please and support ancestral beings; pleasing the Pitṛs is presented as generating puṇya (merit) that benefits the departed and the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha/tarpaṇa or feeding guests in memory of ancestors, prepare offerings thoughtfully and traditionally—this verse highlights that even simple items like salt can be considered significant when offered with dharmic intent.