Shloka 31

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

स्यादन्नं वार्षिकं यस्य कुर्यात्प्रकसौमिकीं क्रियाम् / प्रतिसंवत्सरं सोमः पशुः प्रत्ययनं तथा

Transliteration

syādannaṃ vārṣikaṃ yasya kuryātprakasaumikīṃ kriyām / pratisaṃvatsaraṃ somaḥ paśuḥ pratyayanaṃ tathā

Translation

年ごとの食の供養をなす資力ある者は、規定どおりサウミカ（Saumika）の作法を修すべし。さらに毎年、ソーマ供、獣の供犠、そして確認・更新の儀であるプラティヤーヤナ（pratyayana）もまた行うべし。

Word by Word

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• वार्षिकम्: annual (for a year)
• वार्षिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वार्षिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); ‘अन्न’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• यस्य: of whom, whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• प्रक-सौमिकीम्: Soma-related (Praka-saumiki)
• प्रक-सौमिकीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रक + सौमिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘क्रिया’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• क्रियाम्: rite, ritual act
• क्रियाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रति-संवत्सरम्: every year
• प्रति-संवत्सरम्: Kala-adhikarana (Temporal locus/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; कालवाचक अव्यय (indeclinable adverb of time)

• सोमः: Soma
• सोमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पशुः: sacrificial animal
• पशुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रत्ययनम्: confirmation/assurance (rite/requirement)
• प्रत्ययनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (indeclinable: likewise/also)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nitya/naimittika continuity—those with means should perform prescribed Saumika and associated annual offerings (Soma, paśu, pratyayana).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga groundwork—orderly performance of duty purifies the mind (citta-śuddhi) and sustains ṛta in society.

Application: If undertaking formal vows/ceremonies, commit to consistent follow-through; align resources, calendar, and qualified guidance to avoid broken observances.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (sequence of yajña-vidhis and eligibility gradations)

Characters & Entities

• Soma

FAQs

What is the importance of annual rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that if one has the capacity, yearly food-offerings and prescribed annual observances should be performed regularly as part of pitṛ-karmas (ancestral duties).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stressing recurring śrāddha-style offerings, it implies that the departed are supported through ongoing ritual duty, which is presented in the Garuda Purana as beneficial to post-death welfare and ancestral satisfaction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain consistent annual remembrance and charity/food-giving in the name of ancestors (within one’s means), treating it as a disciplined dharmic obligation rather than an occasional act.