Shloka 19

Śrāddha Vidhi: Kāla (Timing), Pātra (Recipient), and Karma (Procedure) for Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and Piṇḍa

Devanagari script

कृत्वे दंविष्णुरित्येवं द्विजाङ्गुष्ठं निवेशयेत् / सव्याहृतिं च गायत्त्रीं मधुवातेत्यृचस्तथा

Transliteration

kṛtve daṃviṣṇurityevaṃ dvijāṅguṣṭhaṃ niveśayet / savyāhṛtiṃ ca gāyattrīṃ madhuvātetyṛcastathā

Translation

ఇలా చేసి “విష్ణు” అని ఉచ్చరిస్తూ ద్విజుని బొటనవేలును స్థాపించవలెను; అలాగే వ్యాహృతులతో కూడిన గాయత్రీని, “మధువాతా…” మొదలైన ఋచలను కూడా పఠించవలెను।

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

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

• एवम्: in this way
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• द्विजाङ्गुष्ठम्: the Brahmin’s thumb
• द्विजाङ्गुष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + अङ्गुष्ठ (समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठीतत्पुरुष (द्विजस्य अङ्गुष्ठः)

• निवेशयेत्: should place/insert
• निवेशयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + विश् (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: ‘cause to place’)

• सव्याहृतिम्: (the mantra) with the vyāhṛtis
• सव्याहृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + व्याहृति (समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (‘with the vyāhṛtis’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गायत्रीम्: the Gāyatrī (mantra)
• गायत्रीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• मधुवात: ‘Madhu-vāta…’ (name/opening of a ṛc)
• मधुवात: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुवात (प्रातिपदिक; ऋच्-आरम्भपद)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ऋग्वेद-ऋचः नामरूपेण

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

• ऋचः: verses (ṛks)
• ऋचः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन (पाठे ‘ऋचस्’ रूपम्)

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Kriya-vishesana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During consecration of offering/vessel immediately before offering/feeding

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Consecration is strengthened by invoking Viṣṇu and reciting Gāyatrī with vyāhṛtis; Vedic ṛc (‘madhu-vātā…’) adds auspicious harmony.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-smaraṇa within karma: ritual action becomes worship when suffused with divine name and Vedic illumination (Gāyatrī as dhī-preraṇā).

Application: Before offerings/food distribution, pause for a short, sincere mantra sequence (Viṣṇu-nāma + Gāyatrī) to center mind and sanctify the act.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha mantras: use of Viṣṇu-nāma, Gāyatrī, and purificatory ṛcs in consecration steps

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Gayatri
• Vyahritis

FAQs

What is the importance of chanting Gāyatrī with vyāhṛtis in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes Gāyatrī together with the vyāhṛtis as a sanctioned Vedic recitation used to sanctify and empower a ritual act, aligning it with Vedic purity and divine order.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals or purification rites?

By directing the use of Viṣṇu-nāma, Gāyatrī, and a specific ṛk (“madhu vātā…”), the verse indicates that key transitions and rites (including purificatory actions common in śrāddha/antyeṣṭi contexts) are supported through Vedic mantra-recitation for spiritual protection and auspiciousness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing traditional rites (or personal daily purification), recite mantras only as learned from a qualified teacher, keeping intention (śraddhā), cleanliness, and reverence—placing spiritual focus on Viṣṇu and disciplined Vedic remembrance.