Shloka 140

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

पितृदेवमनुष्याणां यज्ञनथो विभुर्भवेत् / यज्ञनाथस्य यद्दत्तं तद्दत्तं सर्वदेहिनाम्

Transliteration

pitṛdevamanuṣyāṇāṃ yajñanatho vibhurbhavet / yajñanāthasya yaddattaṃ taddattaṃ sarvadehinām

Translation

สำหรับบรรพชน เทวะ และมนุษย์ทั้งปวง ยัชญนาถะคือองค์ผู้เป็นใหญ่ผู้แผ่ซ่านทั่ว สิ่งใดที่ถวายแด่ยัชญนาถะ ย่อมเป็นการถวายแก่สรรพสัตว์ผู้มีร่างกายทั้งสิ้น

Word by Word

• पितृदेवमनुष्याणाम्: of ancestors, gods, and humans
• पितृदेवमनुष्याणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + देव + मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (पितरश्च देवाश्च मनुष्याश्च); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive plural ‘of ancestors, gods, and humans’

• यज्ञनाथः: the lord of sacrifice
• यज्ञनाथः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (यज्ञस्य नाथः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विभुः: the all-pervading one
• विभुः: विधेय (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate-noun/adjective-like substantive

• भवेत्: should be/is to be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should be/becomes’

• यज्ञनाथस्य: of the lord of sacrifice
• यज्ञनाथस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (यज्ञस्य नाथः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म/विषय (Topic/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• दत्तम्: (is) given
• दत्तम्: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्वदेहिनाम्: of all embodied beings
• सर्वदेहिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वेषां देहिनाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord presiding over yajña is the universal recipient; offerings made to Him are effectively offerings to all embodied beings.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin/Īśvara as the inner controller and common Self-support of all; unity behind multiplicity.

Application: Perform offerings with a universal intention—dedicate acts to the divine (Nārāyaṇa/yajña-puruṣa) and cultivate generosity that includes all beings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: yajña-vedi/ritual-cosmos

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana passages identifying Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa as yajña-puruṣa and the ultimate recipient of śrāddha/yajña

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Devas
• Humans
• Yajna (as the presiding principle/deity)

FAQs

What is the importance of yajña (sacrificial offering) in Garuda Purana death rites?

This verse teaches that offerings made with yajña-bhāva reach beyond one target; by honoring the presiding Lord of sacrifice, the offering becomes beneficial to ancestors, gods, humans, and all embodied beings—supporting the intent behind śrāddha and related rites.

How does this verse explain how offerings can reach ancestors (Pitris)?

It frames the offering as going to the universal ‘Yajña-nātha’; because that presiding principle pervades all, the gift is not limited to one recipient and is understood to extend to Pitris and other beings through the sacrificial order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charity, śrāddha, and ritual offerings with sincerity and correct intention, understanding that a dedicated offering supports the wider web of beings—strengthening gratitude to ancestors and ethical responsibility in daily life.