Shloka 25

Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhi

Rite of Investing/Offering the Pavitra Sacred Thread

Devanagari script

बलिं दत्त्वा द्विजान् भोज्य चण्डं प्राच्यै विसर्जयेत्

Transliteration

baliṃ dattvā dvijān bhojya caṇḍaṃ prācyai visarjayet

Translation

Tendo oferecido o bali (oblação ritual) e alimentado os dvija (brāhmaṇas), deve-se despedir o caṇḍa, o assistente do rito, na direção do oriente.

Word by Word

• बलिम्: an offering
• बलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• द्विजान्: Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• भोज्य: having fed / to be fed (i.e., feed)
• भोज्य: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; विध्यर्थे प्रयोगः—‘भोजयित्वा/भोजयेत्’ इत्यर्थे (causative sense: to feed)

• चण्डम्: Caṇḍa (a person/attendant)
• चण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्राच्यै: to the east (direction)
• प्राच्यै: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; दिश्-विशेषः (to the eastern direction)

• विसर्जयेत्: should dismiss/send away
• विसर्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya, within the Viṣṇu–Garuḍa dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual has social and directional limbs: bali offering, feeding brāhmaṇas, and proper dismissal of the attendant/agent.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed with saṃskāra (refinement) and loka-saṅgraha (social cohesion) through feeding the worthy.

Application: In ceremonies, include hospitality (feeding) and conclude formally—thank and dismiss helpers appropriately, maintaining clear boundaries and respect.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-directionality within yajña space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.42 (pavitra rite sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Dvijas (Brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

What is the importance of bali and feeding dvijas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents them as essential concluding acts of the rite: the ritual offering (bali) and brāhmaṇa-feeding (dvija-bhojana) complete the prescribed observance and help ensure it is properly fulfilled.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and the soul’s journey?

In the Garuda Purana’s ritual framework, correct performance of śrāddha-related actions supports the deceased’s post-death welfare; this verse emphasizes the proper sequence and formal closure of the rite after offerings and feeding.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha or related rites, follow a disciplined sequence: make the prescribed offering, honor qualified recipients with food, and formally conclude the ceremony rather than leaving it open-ended.