Shloka 17

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

गन्तव्यं नैव विप्रेण दातुं शीघ्रं जलाञ्जलिम् / निवृत्ताश्च यदा नार्यो लोकाचारः सदाभवेत्

Transliteration

gantavyaṃ naiva vipreṇa dātuṃ śīghraṃ jalāñjalim / nivṛttāśca yadā nāryo lokācāraḥ sadābhavet

Translation

Un brāhmaṇa ne doit pas s’en aller à la hâte ; il doit offrir sans tarder le jalāñjali, l’oblation d’eau. Et lorsque les femmes se sont retirées, alors la coutume de la communauté (lokācāra) doit se poursuivre comme il convient.

Word by Word

• gantavyam: one should go
• gantavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gantavya (कृदन्त; √gam गम् धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; gerundive (भाव्य/कर्तव्य) used impersonally: "it is to be gone" = "one should go"

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• eva: indeed/at all
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• vipreṇa: by a brāhmaṇa
• vipreṇa: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agent/performer in impersonal construction

• dātum: to give
• dātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण)

• jala-añjalim: a handful of water
• jala-añjalim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of dātum

• nivṛttāḥ: having withdrawn/returned
• nivṛttāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nivṛtta (कृदन्त; √vṛt वृत्त् धातु with नि-)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; past participle "having withdrawn/returned"; agrees with nāryaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• yadā: when
• yadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• nāryaḥ: women
• nāryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• loka-ācāraḥ: social custom
• loka-ācāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: lokasya ācāraḥ = "custom of the people"; subject of abhavet

• sadā: always
• sadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (नित्यत्ववाचक)

• abhavet: should be/should occur
• abhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु) with prefix a- (अ)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Do not leave without completing jalāñjali; maintain proper sequence and social decorum—customary conduct resumes after appropriate withdrawal of women.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as disciplined action (niyama) and social harmony; ritual completion before movement/action.

Application: Complete essential rites without haste; respect roles, privacy, and community protocol during bereavement gatherings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-social setting (post-offering conduct)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: procedural etiquette in post-death rites; emphasis on completing udaka/śrāddha steps before dispersal (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana
• Women
• Community custom (Lokachara)

FAQs

What is the importance of jalāñjali (water-oblation) in the Garuda Purana funeral context?

This verse stresses that the water-oblation should be offered promptly and not neglected, indicating it is a time-sensitive rite within post-death observances.

How does this verse guide proper ritual sequence and social conduct?

It indicates an order: the officiant should complete the immediate water-offering first, and then, after women withdraw, the remaining customary procedures (lokācāra) should continue appropriately.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow a clear, respectful sequence in last rites—complete essential offerings without delay and maintain decorum and role-appropriate participation so the rite proceeds smoothly and respectfully.