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

Di deva-gāra (rumah para dewa/ruang suci), seorang dvija hendaklah meletakkan pelita menghadap timur atau utara. Bagi Pitṛ (leluhur), hendaklah diletakkan menghadap selatan, setelah membuat saṅkalpa dengan air dengan tekad yang teguh dan memastikan pelita itu stabil.

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.