Shloka 120

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

जितेन्द्रियमना भूत्वा शुचिष्मान्धर्मतत्परः / भक्त्या तत्र प्रकुर्वीत श्राद्धान्येकादशैव तु

Transliteration

jitendriyamanā bhūtvā śuciṣmāndharmatatparaḥ / bhaktyā tatra prakurvīta śrāddhānyekādaśaiva tu

Translation

ഇന്ദ്രിയങ്ങളെ ജയിച്ച് മനസ്സിനെ സ്ഥിരമാക്കി, ശുചിത്വവും ധർമ്മപരായണതയും ഉള്ളവനായി, അവിടെ ഭക്തിയോടെ ഏകാദശ ശ്രാദ്ധകർമ്മങ്ങൾ നിർവഹിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• जित-इन्द्रिय-मनाः: one who has conquered senses and mind
• जित-इन्द्रिय-मनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (प्रातिपदिक; जि धातोः क्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘जितानि इन्द्रियाणि (येन), (जितं) मनः (येन)’; रूपम् ‘मनाः’ (मनस्-शब्दस्य प्रथमा एकवचन)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• शुचिष्मान्: pure/clean
• शुचिष्मान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचिष्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• धर्म-तत्परः: devoted to dharma
• धर्म-तत्परः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘धर्मे तत्परः’

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• प्रकुर्वीत: should perform
• प्रकुर्वीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• श्राद्धानि: śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धानि: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• एकादश: eleven
• एकादश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकादश (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (श्राद्धानि इत्यस्य)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic/only)

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Eligibility and efficacy of śrāddha depend on self-control, mental steadiness, purity, and dharma-orientation, performed with bhakti/śraddhā.

Vedantic Theme: Karma purified by sattva and devotion becomes a support for inner clarity; outer rite mirrors inner restraint.

Application: Prepare for śrāddha by observing cleanliness, moderating senses, steadying attention, and performing the prescribed set (here: eleven) with sincere faith.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: prescribed śrāddha setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.121 (one-pointedness and offerings); Garuda Purana 2.4.117-119 (tarpana and Vishnu-centered remembrance)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of performing eleven śrāddhas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the śrāddha sequence as a dharmic duty to be performed with purity, self-control, and devotion—emphasizing that the rites are not optional formalities but a prescribed set (eleven) meant to be completed properly.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, śrāddha and related offerings support the departed during the preta phase; the verse highlights the required inner discipline (purity, sense-control, faith) that makes these rites effective within the post-death framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach ancestral rites (or any sacred duty) with cleanliness, restraint, and sincere intention—prioritizing correct conduct and devotion over mere outward performance.