Shloka 24

Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhi

Rite of Investing/Offering the Pavitra Sacred Thread

Devanagari script

पूर्वैरनेन यो दद्यात्पवित्राणां चतुष्टयम् / दत्त्वा वह्नेः (वरे) पवित्रं च गुरवे दक्षिणां दिशेत्

Transliteration

pūrvairanena yo dadyātpavitrāṇāṃ catuṣṭayam / dattvā vahneḥ (vare) pavitraṃ ca gurave dakṣiṇāṃ diśet

Translation

മുന്‍പറഞ്ഞ വിധിപ്രകാരം നാല് ‘പവിത്ര’ പുണ്യവസ്തുക്കള്‍ അര്‍പ്പിക്കുന്നവന്‍, പിന്നെ അഗ്നിയില്‍ പവിത്രം സമര്‍പ്പിച്ച് (വിധിപൂര്‍വം) ഗുരുവിന് ദക്ഷിണ നല്‍കണം.

Word by Word

• पूर्वैः: by the former (ones)
• पूर्वैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (instrumental plural)

• अनेन: by this (means)
• अनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (instrumental singular)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• पवित्राणाम्: of the sacred threads/amulets
• पवित्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• चतुष्टयम्: a set of four
• चतुष्टयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having given)

• वह्नेः: of Agni (fire)
• वह्नेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• वरे: in/at the chosen (place); or in the boon (variant)
• वरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; पाठान्तर/कोष्ठकस्थ (locative singular)

• पवित्रम्: a sacred thread/amulet
• पवित्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गुरवे: to the teacher
• गुरवे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• दक्षिणाम्: fee/gift (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• दिशेत्: should offer/give
• दिशेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दिश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, typical dialogue frame of the Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness (vidhi) culminates in offering to Agni and honoring the officiant with dakṣiṇā.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: sanctifying action through right procedure and right intention; honoring the guru as a conduit of dharma.

Application: In any rite, complete the sequence: offer the sanctified item to fire as prescribed, then give appropriate dakṣiṇā to the teacher/priest without delay or miserliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (agni-kunda/vedi implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.42 (earlier vidhi for pavitra-catuṣṭaya); Garuda Purana 1.43 (pavitrāropaṇa context continues)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Guru

FAQs

What is the importance of pavitra and dakṣiṇā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that ritual purity (pavitra offerings) must be completed with proper closure—an offering to Agni and an appropriate dakṣiṇā to the officiating guru—so the rite becomes complete and dharmically valid.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana rites connected with death rituals?

Garuda Purana frequently emphasizes correct ritual performance and gifting; this verse reflects that pattern—purificatory actions and prescribed offerings, concluded with dakṣiṇā, are part of the broader framework used in śrāddha and related observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform religious rites with sincerity and completeness: follow the procedure, make the intended offering, and honor the teacher/priest with fair compensation rather than treating ritual as merely symbolic.