Shloka 14

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

अन्नं भूमौश्वचाण्डालवायसेभ्यश्च निः क्षिपेत् / अन्नं पितृमनुष्येभ्यो देयमप्यन्वहं जलम्

Transliteration

annaṃ bhūmauśvacāṇḍālavāyasebhyaśca niḥ kṣipet / annaṃ pitṛmanuṣyebhyo deyamapyanvahaṃ jalam

Translation

พึงวางอาหารลงบนพื้นดินสำหรับสุนัข จัณฑาล และกา; และพึงถวายอาหารแก่ปิตฤและให้ทานแก่มนุษย์ พร้อมทั้งให้ทานน้ำเป็นนิตย์ทุกวัน

Word by Word

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्व-चाण्डाल-वायसेभ्यः: to dogs, outcastes, and crows
• श्व-चाण्डाल-वायसेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन् (प्रातिपदिक) + चाण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक) + वायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (श्वभ्यः च चाण्डालेभ्यः च वायसेभ्यः च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• निः: out/away
• निः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निः (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपसर्ग/क्रियाविशेषण (out/away)

• क्षिपेत्: should throw/offer
• क्षिपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (अर्थतः कर्म)

• पितृ-मनुष्येभ्यः: to the ancestors and to humans
• पितृ-मनुष्येभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (पितृभ्यः च मनुष्येभ्यः च)

• देयम्: should be given
• देयम्: Vidhi (Obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थे कृदन्त (gerundive: ‘to be given’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेयभाव

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-निपात (also/even)

• अन्वहम्: every day
• अन्वहम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय) + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (daily/every day)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Daily (anvaham)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Daily food offerings should include animals/birds and marginalized humans; additionally, offer to pitṛs and humans and give water every day.

Vedantic Theme: Seeing the one Self reflected in all beings supports non-cruelty and generosity; dharma as practical compassion that purifies the mind.

Application: Set aside a small portion of food for animals/birds; practice non-discriminatory charity; offer water (to guests, thirsty beings, plants) daily; maintain ancestral remembrance through simple offerings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household threshold/courtyard (bali place)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96.12 (bali, svadhā, atithi); Garuda Purana 1.96.13 (bhūta-bali procedure)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of offering food and water in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents daily anna-dāna and jala-dāna as a dharmic duty—supporting living beings and honoring the Pitṛs through regular offerings.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on the afterlife and ancestors?

By instructing offerings to the Pitṛs and daily water-giving, it aligns with the text’s broader emphasis on ancestral satisfaction (pitṛ-prīti) and supportive rites connected with post-death welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Set aside a small portion of food for animals/birds, give food to someone in need, and offer water daily—performed with remembrance of ancestors and a charitable intention.