Shloka 17

Explanation of Purification (Śuddhi-vyākhyāna)

Devanagari script

नाम गोत्रं स्मरेत् तस्य विष्णुशब्दं प्रकीर्तयेत् / नमस्कारशिरस्कन्तु पञ्चमं पिण्डमुद्धरेत्

Transliteration

nāma gotraṃ smaret tasya viṣṇuśabdaṃ prakīrtayet / namaskāraśiraskantu pañcamaṃ piṇḍamuddharet

Translation

ఆయన పేరు, గోత్రాన్ని స్మరించి ‘విష్ణు’ నామాన్ని కీర్తించాలి; ఆపై నమస్కారంతో శిరస్సు వంచి ఐదవ పిండాన్ని ఎత్తి అర్పించాలి।

Word by Word

• nāma: name
• nāma: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• gotram: lineage/gotra
• gotram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• smaret: should remember
• smaret: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-Lin), 3rd Person, Singular

• tasya: his (of the deceased)
• tasya: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• viṣṇuśabdam: the word 'Vishnu'
• viṣṇuśabdam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇuśabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prakīrtayet: should pronounce/recite
• prakīrtayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kīrt (कीर्त) + pra (प्र)
• Form: Causative, Optative (Vidhi-Lin), 3rd Person, Singular

• namaskāraśiraskam: having 'namaskara' at the beginning/head
• namaskāraśiraskam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: namaskāraśiraska (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• pañcamam: fifth
• pañcamam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• piṇḍam: Pinda
• piṇḍam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• uddharet: should offer/lift up
• uddharet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (हृ) + ud (उद्)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-Lin), 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At the moment of offering the designated preta-piṇḍa within the śrāddha sequence.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nāma-gotra smaraṇa anchors the rite to the specific departed, while uttering ‘Viṣṇu’ sacralizes the act; humility (namaskāra) is integral to efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma as a purifier; īśvara-smaraṇa accompanying karma transforms it into worship.

Application: Before offering the preta-piṇḍa, clearly remember/recite the deceased’s identity and invoke Viṣṇu; perform the act with bowed head and focused intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha mantras prescribing nāma-gotra-ucchāraṇa; Garuda Purana emphasis on Viṣṇu-smaraṇa during antyeṣṭi and śrāddha

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering the departed person’s name and gotra in Garuda Purana rites?

This verse frames it as a necessary identification of the recipient of the śrāddha/piṇḍa offering, ensuring the rite is directed to the intended departed soul (preta) according to proper ritual address.

How does this verse explain the role of chanting ‘Vishnu’ during piṇḍa-dāna?

It places Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (uttering Viṣṇu’s name) alongside the offering act, indicating that the rite is to be performed with divine remembrance, sanctifying the offering and aligning it with dharmic passage for the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing memorial rites, maintain clarity of intention (name/gotra) and a reverent, prayerful mind (bowing and divine remembrance) rather than treating the ritual as a mere formality.