Shloka 12

Explanation of Purification (Śuddhi-vyākhyāna)

Devanagari script

नव सप्ताथवा पञ्च स्वसामर्थ्यानुसारतः / अपरे ऽहनि मध्याह्ने यमं विष्णुं तथार्चयेत्

Transliteration

nava saptāthavā pañca svasāmarthyānusārataḥ / apare 'hani madhyāhne yamaṃ viṣṇuṃ tathārcayet

Translation

తన సామర్థ్యానుసారంగా తొమ్మిది, లేదా ఏడు, లేదా ఐదు దినములు (క్రియ) చేయవలెను; తదుపరి దినమున మధ్యాహ్నం యముని మరియు విష్ణువును అలాగే ఆరాధించవలెను।

Word by Word

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (विशेषण/quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्द; (here) प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनार्थ—'nine' (count)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण/quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्द; (here) 'seven' (count)

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक—'or'

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (विशेषण/quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्द; (here) 'five' (count)

• स्व-सामर्थ्य-अनुसारतः: according to one’s ability
• स्व-सामर्थ्य-अनुसारतः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्व + सामर्थ्य + अनुसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त—अनुसारतः (ablatival adverb) = 'according to'; 'according to one's capacity'

• अपरे: on the next (day)
• अपरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative) एकवचनार्थे (अहनि इति सह) / अथवा प्रथमा बहुवचन; प्रयोगः—'on the next/other' (day)

• अहनि: on the day
• अहनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• मध्याह्ने: at midday
• मध्याह्ने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्याह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• यमम्: Yama
• यमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण—'likewise/also'

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra, typical Preta Kanda instruction)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: apare ’hani madhyāhne (on the following day at midday); duration 9/7/5 days per capacity

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yathāśakti-anuṣṭhāna: dharma is to be performed according to one’s means; integrate Yama (niyati/justice) with Viṣṇu (anugraha).

Vedantic Theme: Harmony of pravṛtti (duty) with īśvara-smaraṇa: action offered to the Lord becomes purifying.

Application: Set a sustainable memorial practice (duration and expense within means); include both ethical reflection (accountability) and devotional remembrance (compassion/forgiveness).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-vidhi passages: madhyāhna-kāla, devatā-pūjā, and yathāśakti principle

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Yama and Vishnu in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse links post-death observance to both divine justice (Yama) and divine refuge/liberation (Viṣṇu), indicating that rites acknowledge karmic accountability while seeking protection and auspicious passage for the departed.

Why does the verse mention nine, seven, or five days?

It permits an adaptable duration of rites based on one’s means, emphasizing sincerity and capacity-based dharma rather than a single rigid schedule.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform memorial rites within your realistic capacity, and pair ethical living with prayer—remembering both accountability for actions (Yama) and the ideal of compassion and surrender (Viṣṇu).