Shloka 38

Devotpatti-nirūpaṇa — Hari’s Pūrṇatva

Completeness) and the Ritual Doctrine of Sāra (Essence

Devanagari script

त्रिदिनैश्चातसीपुष्पं निः सारं परिकीर्तितम् / प्रहरं मल्लिका सारं जाती तु प्रहरार्धकम्

Transliteration

tridinaiścātasīpuṣpaṃ niḥ sāraṃ parikīrtitam / praharaṃ mallikā sāraṃ jātī tu praharārdhakam

Translation

चातसीचे फूल तीन दिवसांनी असार म्हणतात. मल्लिका एक प्रहरपर्यंत सारयुक्त राहते, आणि जाती अर्ध प्रहरपर्यंत।

Word by Word

• tridinaiḥ: After three days
• tridinaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण) or Hetu
• Type: Noun
• Root: tridina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (indicating duration/lapse)

• ca: And
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• atasīpuṣpam: Flax flower
• atasīpuṣpam: Karma (Object/कर्म) in Passive
• Type: Noun
• Root: atasīpuṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• niḥsāram: Essence-less
• niḥsāram: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niḥsāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• parikīrtitam: Is declared
• parikīrtitam: Kriya-Visheshana or Predicate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parikīrtita (kṛt-pratyaya)
• Form: Past Passive Participle, Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• praharam: For one watch (3 hours)
• praharam: Kala-Adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (Duration)

• mallikā: Jasmine
• mallikā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mallikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sāram: Essence / Fresh
• sāram: Visheshana or Predicate
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (Abstract noun used as predicate)

• jātī: Jati flower
• jātī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jātī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tu: But
• tu: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• praharārdhakam: For half a watch
• praharārdhakam: Kala-Adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praharārdhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (Duration)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dravya-guṇa and kāla: ritual substances (flowers) have time-limited efficacy; worship requires care, freshness, and discernment.

Vedantic Theme: Attention (apramāda) in sacred action; honoring the subtle order in ritual life.

Application: For pūjā, use cātasī within 3 days, mallikā within 1 prahara, jātī within half prahara; prioritize freshly plucked flowers and timely offering.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple garden/flower market/altar

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.14 (flower potency durations as part of sāra/niḥsāra rules)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of time-bound flower efficacy in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that ritual items have a limited window of ‘sāra’ (effective potency); using fresh, timely offerings supports the intended results of śrāddha and related rites.

How does this verse relate to rites for the departed (preta) and ancestors?

In the Preta Kanda context, it functions as practical guidance for śrāddha/pinda-dāna preparations—specifying how long certain flowers remain suitable so the rite is performed with proper efficacy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use fresh offerings and avoid stale ritual materials—especially in ancestor rites—by preparing flowers close to the time of worship and replacing them once their effective period has passed.