Shloka 4

Phala-Saptamī and Vijayā-Saptamī: Bhādrapada Worship, Feeding, Mantra, and Sevenfold Saptamī Restraints

Devanagari script

दद्यात्फलानि विप्रेभ्यो मार्तण्डः प्रीयतामिति / खर्जूरं नारिकेलं वा प्राशयेन्मातुलुङ्गकम्

Transliteration

dadyātphalāni viprebhyo mārtaṇḍaḥ prīyatāmiti / kharjūraṃ nārikelaṃ vā prāśayenmātuluṅgakam

Translation

Hendaklah memberi buah-buahan kepada para brāhmaṇa sambil berkata: “Semoga Mārtaṇḍa (Surya) berkenan.” Hendaklah mempersembahkan kurma, atau kelapa, atau memberi mereka menikmati mātuluṅga (citron).

Word by Word

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• phalāni: fruits
• phalāni: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• viprebhyaḥ: to brāhmaṇas
• viprebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), बहुवचन

• mārtaṇḍaḥ: Mārtaṇḍa (the Sun)
• mārtaṇḍaḥ: Sambodhana/Quoted subject (उक्तिविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārtaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सूर्य-नाम

• prīyatām: may (he) be pleased
• prīyatām: Kriyā (Quoted verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prī (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; आशीर्लिङ्गवत् प्रयोग (benedictive sense)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• kharjūram: date (fruit)
• kharjūram: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kharjūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• nārikelam: coconut
• nārikelam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārikela (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• prāśayet: should feed / should cause to eat
• prāśayet: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: aś (धातु) + pra (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• mātuluṅgakam: citron (mātuluṅga)
• mātuluṅgakam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātuluṅgaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna offered with explicit saṅkalpa (‘Mārtaṇḍaḥ prīyatām’) sacralizes ordinary food into worship; generosity becomes devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Offering (īśvara-arpana) transforms action; the attitude (bhāva) is central to karmic refinement.

Application: Give wholesome fruits/foods in charity with a clear intention of gratitude and worship; keep offerings sattvic and seasonally appropriate.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual gift-giving setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.130.5: feeding with pāyasa as part of the same rite; Garuda Purana: dāna-vidhi passages prescribing specific items and saṅkalpa formulas

Characters & Entities

• Mārtaṇḍa (Sun)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering fruits to brāhmaṇas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames fruit-giving (phaladāna) to learned brāhmaṇas as a meritorious act performed with a clear devotional intent—specifically to please Mārtaṇḍa (the Sun), linking charity with deity-propitiation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana teachings?

Indirectly: it emphasizes ritual charity (dāna) as a source of puṇya (merit), which the Garuda Purana repeatedly presents as supportive for auspicious post-death outcomes and reduced suffering in the afterlife journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice mindful giving: donate wholesome food/fruits to sincere recipients (or religious/charitable institutions) with a prayerful intention—cultivating gratitude, discipline, and merit-oriented living.