Shloka 32

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

प्रज्वाल्य वह्निं विधिवज्जुहुयाज्जातवेदसम् / ऋत्विक् पुत्रो ऽथ पत्नी वा शिष्यो वापि सहोदरः

Transliteration

prajvālya vahniṃ vidhivajjuhuyājjātavedasam / ṛtvik putro 'tha patnī vā śiṣyo vāpi sahodaraḥ

Translation

പവിത്ര അഗ്നി പ്രജ്വലിപ്പിച്ച് വിധിപ്രകാരം ജാതവേദസ് (അഗ്നിദേവൻ)ക്ക് ആഹുതി അർപ്പിക്കണം. ഋത്വിക്, പുത്രൻ, ഭാര്യ, ശിഷ്യൻ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ സഹോദരൻ പോലും ഇത് ചെയ്യാം.

Word by Word

• प्रज्वाल्य: having kindled
• प्रज्वाल्य: Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); धातु: ज्वल् (to blaze); उपसर्ग: प्र (having kindled)

• वह्निं: the fire
• वह्निं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• विधिवत्: according to the rite
• विधिवत्: Prakaraṇa (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (properly, according to rule)

• जुहुयात्: should offer (oblations)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; तृतीयपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; धातु: हु (to offer into fire)

• जातवेदसम्: Jātavedas (Agni)
• जातवेदसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जातवेदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अग्निनाम (epithet of Agni)

• ऋत्विक्: the officiating priest
• ऋत्विक्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; रूप: ऋत्विक् (nom. sg.)

• पुत्रः: the son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अथ: or/then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प/अनुक्रमबोधक (or then)

• पत्नी: the wife
• पत्नी: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

• शिष्यः: the disciple
• शिष्यः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Additive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• सहोदरः: a brother (born of same mother)
• सहोदरः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Properly kindling and offering into Agni is a central nitya/naimittika duty; the rite may be maintained by qualified close relations when needed.

Vedantic Theme: Yajña as karma-yoga: disciplined action offered into the sacred, supporting inner purification and social order.

Application: Maintain integrity of essential duties through trained delegation (ṛtvij/son/wife/disciple/brother) when the principal is unable, ensuring competence and reverence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual enclosure (gṛhya/śrauta space)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Ācāra): agni-kārya, homa, delegation/agency in rites (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Jātavedas)
• Ṛtvik (priest)

FAQs

What is the importance of Agni (Jātavedas) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse highlights that offerings to Agni—performed in the properly kindled fire—are a key part of the prescribed rite, with Agni serving as the sacred medium for the oblation.

Who is allowed to perform the ritual actions mentioned in this verse?

The verse explicitly allows multiple eligible performers: the officiating priest, the son, the wife, the disciple, or a brother—indicating continuity of rites even if a specific person is unavailable.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If a qualified priest is not available, the family should still ensure the essential rites are performed by an eligible close relative with due procedure and reverence, rather than neglecting the ritual obligations.