Shloka 9

The Explanation of Various Gifts (Dāna) and the Soul’s Entry into Another Body

Devanagari script

प्राङ्मुखोदङ्मुखं दीपं देवागारे द्विजातये / कुर्याद्याम्यमुखं पित्रे अद्भिः सङ्कल्प्य सुस्थिरम्

Transliteration

prāṅmukhodaṅmukhaṃ dīpaṃ devāgāre dvijātaye / kuryādyāmyamukhaṃ pitre adbhiḥ saṅkalpya susthiram

Translation

ദേവാലയത്തിൽ ദ്വിജൻ ദീപം കിഴക്കുമുഖമോ വടക്കുമുഖമോ ആക്കി വെക്കണം. പിതൃകൾക്കായി ജലത്തോടെ സംकल्पം ചെയ്ത്, ദീപം സ്ഥിരമായി തെക്കുമുഖമായി സ്ഥാപിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• प्राङ्मुखोदङ्मुखम्: east-facing and north-facing
• प्राङ्मुखोदङ्मुखम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राङ्मुख-उदङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (प्राङ्मुखं च उदङ्मुखं च) दीपं विशेषयति

• दीपम्: a lamp
• दीपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• देवागारे: in a temple
• देवागारे: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-आगार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् आगारः)

• द्विजातये: for a twice-born (Brahmin etc.)
• द्विजातये: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि-जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वे जात्यौ यस्य/द्विजः) अर्थे; सम्प्रदान (for a twice-born)

• कुर्यात्: should make/do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• याम्यमुखम्: south-facing
• याम्यमुखम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याम्य-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य/दक्षिणस्य मुखम् = south-facing) दीपं विशेषयति

• पित्रे: for the ancestors/father
• पित्रे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (for the Pitṛs/father)

• अद्भिः: with water
• अद्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; अप्-शब्द (water)

• सङ्कल्प्य: having made the intention (saṅkalpa)
• सङ्कल्प्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having resolved/intended)

• सुस्थिरम्: very steady/firm
• सुस्थिरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अतिस्थिरम्) दीपं विशेषयति

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During deva-pūjā and pitṛ-kārya/śrāddha contexts as applicable

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct orientation and intention: lamps for devas face east/north; for pitṛs face south, with water-sankalpa and steadiness.

Vedantic Theme: Karma requires saṅkalpa and niyama: intention and disciplined form shape the subtle fruit of action.

Application: When offering a lamp, consciously dedicate it (saṅkalpa) and place it steadily; use south-facing orientation for ancestral offerings and east/north for deity worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/shrine

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dik-niyamas in śrāddha and dāna contexts; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: pitṛ-oriented rites and southward directionality

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitris
• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of lamp direction (east/north/south) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse links direction with the intended recipient: east or north for Deva-worship in a shrine, and south for the Pitṛs, aligning ancestor offerings with the southern (Yama-associated) quarter.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey described in the Garuda Purana?

By prescribing Pitṛ-oriented offerings facing south, it reflects the ritual support given to the departed and ancestral realm connected with Yama’s direction, reinforcing the Purana’s framework of post-death rites aiding the deceased.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During Śrāddha or ancestor remembrance, keep ritual actions deliberate: make a clear saṅkalpa with water, place offerings steadily, and follow traditional directional conventions (south for Pitṛ-kārya) where appropriate.