Shloka 22

Tila–Darbha–Maṇḍala in Aūrdhvadaihika: Protection, Eligibility, and the Merit of Salt-Dāna

Devanagari script

कुशाः पिण्डेषु निर्माल्याः ब्राह्मणाः प्रेतभोजने / मन्त्राः शूद्रेषु पतिताश्चितायाश्च हुताशनः

Transliteration

kuśāḥ piṇḍeṣu nirmālyāḥ brāhmaṇāḥ pretabhojane / mantrāḥ śūdreṣu patitāścitāyāśca hutāśanaḥ

Translation

หญ้ากุศะที่ใช้กับก้อนปิณฑะย่อมกลายเป็นดุจของเหลือจากบูชา; พราหมณ์เมื่อร่วมกินอาหารสำหรับเปรตย่อมประหนึ่งมัวหมอง. มนตร์ที่มอบแก่ผู้ไม่สมควรย่อมเสื่อมจากความศักดิ์สิทธิ์ และแม้ไฟบูชาก็ถูกนับว่าไม่บริสุทธิ์เมื่อเผาอยู่บนเชิงตะกอน.

Word by Word

• कुशाः: kuśa grass blades
• कुशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पिण्डेषु: in the piṇḍa offerings
• पिण्डेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• निर्माल्याः: (become) remnants/leftovers
• निर्माल्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (कुशाः)

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• प्रेतभोजने: in the feeding for the departed (preta)
• प्रेतभोजने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रेतस्य भोजनम्)

• मन्त्राः: mantras
• मन्त्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• शूद्रेषु: among/with Śūdras
• शूद्रेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• पतिताः: fallen/degraded
• पतिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + इत (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (मन्त्राः)

• चितायाः: of the funeral pyre
• चितायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• हुताशनः: fire (the consumer of offerings)
• हुताशनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुत + अशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (हुतं अश्नाति इति/हुतं अश्नन्)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Antyeṣṭi/śrāddha context (piṇḍa and preta-bhojana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adhikāra (fitness) and śauca (purity) govern the efficacy and sanctity of ritual substances, persons, and mantras.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa discipline as a support for sattva and right conduct; misuse of sacred means yields demerit and loss of spiritual potency.

Application: Maintain śrāddha/antyeṣṭi boundaries: avoid improper consumption of preta-food by those who must preserve ritual purity; transmit mantras only to qualified recipients; treat funeral fire and implements with prescribed observances.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: cremation ground (śmaśāna) implied

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śauca/āśauca and śrāddha do’s/don’ts (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas
• Pretas
• Agni (Hutashana)

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse stresses that funeral contexts have strict boundaries: items, persons, and mantras lose their sanctity when used or handled improperly, so śrāddha and piṇḍa rites must be done with correct eligibility and conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly, it implies that correct post-death rites (like piṇḍa offerings) support the departed’s transitional state (preta); improper handling of offerings and mantras is portrayed as spiritually damaging and ritually ineffective.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform last rites and śrāddha with trained priests, follow family and śāstric procedure, avoid casual handling of sacred mantras, and keep funeral offerings and meals within the intended ritual framework.