Shloka 4

On Untimely Death and the Explanation of Pleasure and Pain, Gain and Loss

Vṛṣotsarga and Preta-Uddhāra Rites

Devanagari script

पात्रासादनं श्रपणमुपयमनकुशादिकम् / पुर्युक्षणान्ते होमं च कर्या द्वै ब्राह्मणेन तु

Transliteration

pātrāsādanaṃ śrapaṇamupayamanakuśādikam / puryukṣaṇānte homaṃ ca karyā dvai brāhmaṇena tu

Translation

యజ్ఞపాత్రాలను సిద్ధం చేసి అమర్చాలి, నిర్దిష్ట హవిని వండాలి, ఉపయమనము మరియు కుశాదిసామగ్రిని సమకూర్చాలి. పుర్యుక్షణ (శుద్ధి ప్రోక్షణ) ముగింపున రెండు బ్రాహ్మణులచే హోమం చేయించాలి।

Word by Word

• पात्रासादनम्: placing/setting the vessels
• पात्रासादनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र-आसादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पात्रस्य आसादनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (सूच्यते—कर्मसूची)

• श्रपणम्: cooking/boiling
• श्रपणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रप् (धातु) → श्रपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपयमनकुशादिकम्: upayamana and kuśa etc. (items)
• उपयमनकुशादिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपयमन + कुश + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (कुशादि-समाहारः; ‘उपयमनं कुशादिकं च’ इत्यर्थे), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुरी-उक्षण-अन्ते: at the end of the sprinkling (puryukṣaṇa)
• पुरी-उक्षण-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी + उक्षण + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उक्षणस्य अन्ते), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• होमम्: oblation/offerings (homa)
• होमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कार्याः: are to be done / should be performed
• कार्याः: Vidhi (विधेय/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्) कृत्य-विशेषण/विधेय, बहुवचन (स्त्री/पुं—प्रकरणानुसारं), ‘कर्तव्याः’ = to be done

• द्वै: two
• द्वै: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वि-शब्दः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (नपुंसक/पुं-प्रयोगः), संख्याविशेषण

• ब्राह्मणेन: by a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणेन: Kartr/Agent-instrument (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण/विरोध (particle)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After preparatory steps and puryukṣaṇa, immediately before/at the homa phase.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual success requires complete preparation (pātra-sādana, śrapaṇa), correct materials (kuśa, upayamana), purification (puryukṣaṇa), and properly officiated homa (two Brahmins).

Vedantic Theme: Niyama and śuddhi (purity) as supports for sattva; disciplined action reduces rajas/tamas and aligns karma with dharma.

Application: Prepare all vessels and offerings beforehand, perform purification sprinkling, and conduct homa with the required number of qualified Brahmins.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual enclosure/vedi

Cross References

Related Themes: 2.41.5 specifying āghāra/ājya-bhāga and āhutis; Garuda Purana ritual sequences for śrāddha-associated homa and śānti rites

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins

FAQs

What is the importance of homa at the end of puryukṣaṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places homa after the purifying sprinkling (puryukṣaṇa), indicating that sanctification precedes the fire-offering so the rite is performed in ritual purity and proper sequence.

Why does the verse specify that two Brahmins should perform the homa?

The verse explicitly prescribes the homa to be conducted by two Brahmins, reflecting a formal, authorized performance of the funeral rite according to śāstric procedure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow a clear, orderly ritual sequence—prepare materials, maintain cleanliness/purity, and engage qualified officiants—so essential rites are done carefully rather than hastily.