Shloka 20

Vṛṣotsarga as Prerequisite for Śrāddha: Eligibility, Timing, Purification, and the Urgency of Dharma

Devanagari script

व्यञ्जनानि विचित्राणि भक्ष्यभोज्यानि यानि च / स्वहस्तेन प्रदत्तानि देहान्ते चाक्षयं फलम्

Transliteration

vyañjanāni vicitrāṇi bhakṣyabhojyāni yāni ca / svahastena pradattāni dehānte cākṣayaṃ phalam

Translation

さまざまな美味なる供物—食して味わう食物—を自らの手で施し与えるなら、命終の時に朽ちぬ果報を得る。

Word by Word

• व्यञ्जनानि: condiments, side-dishes
• व्यञ्जनानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• विचित्राणि: variegated, diverse
• विचित्राणि: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• भक्ष्यभोज्यानि: foods to be eaten and to be enjoyed (edibles and meals)
• भक्ष्यभोज्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• यानि: which (things)
• यानि: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

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

• स्वहस्तेन: by (one's) own hand
• स्वहस्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'one's own hand')

• प्रदत्तानि: given, bestowed
• प्रदत्तानि: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु) → प्रदत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• देहान्ते: at the end of the body (at death)
• देहान्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('end of the body' = death)

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

• अक्षयम्: imperishable
• अक्षयम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Annadana and personally offered gifts generate akshaya-phala (imperishable merit) that ripens at dehanta (life’s end).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama; transient acts can yield enduring subtle results when aligned with dharma and right intention.

Application: Practice direct giving (especially food) with one’s own hands; prioritize sincerity, timeliness, and respectful offering over display.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-khanda/Pretakalpa): recurring praise of dana, especially annadana, as support for the departed and as akshaya merit (general thematic parallel).

FAQs

What is the importance of food charity (annadāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offering prepared foods personally—by one’s own hand—creates akṣaya (imperishable) merit that supports one at life’s end.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Preta Kanda?

In the Preta Kanda’s framework, deeds performed in life become the soul’s resource after death; here, giving nourishing food is highlighted as a lasting, non-wasting spiritual “fruit” at dehānta (death).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly feed guests, the needy, or perform food-offering charity with personal involvement and sincerity, treating it as a conscious dharmic act rather than a mere transaction.