Shloka 15

The Narrative of the Five Pretas

Eligibility for rites and jīvac-chrāddha procedure

Devanagari script

तयोर्मध्ये तु निः क्षिप्य विप्रान्संमन्त्र्य भो जयेत् / प्रथमामुत्तरे न्यस्य द्वितीयां दक्षिणे न्यसेत्

Transliteration

tayormadhye tu niḥ kṣipya viprānsaṃmantrya bho jayet / prathamāmuttare nyasya dvitīyāṃ dakṣiṇe nyaset

Translation

เมื่อวางสิ่งนั้นไว้ระหว่างทั้งสองแล้ว พึงปรึกษาพราหมณ์และเลี้ยงภัตตาหารแก่ท่านทั้งหลาย โดยวางอันแรกไว้ทิศเหนือ และวางอันที่สองไว้ทิศใต้

Word by Word

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; 'of those two'

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the middle)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• निः: out/forth
• निः: Verb-modifier (उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निः (उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपसर्ग (preverb)

• क्षिप्य: having placed/thrown
• क्षिप्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), 'having thrown/placed'

• विप्रान्: Brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• सं-मन्त्र्य: having addressed/invoked
• सं-मन्त्र्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), 'having consulted/invited with mantras'

• भो: O!
• भो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भो (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• जयेत्: should proceed/perform
• जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; here in ritual sense 'should cause to be victorious/should proceed'

• प्रथमाम्: the first (one)
• प्रथमाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण

• उत्तरे: to the north/upper side
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; दिशावाचक (in the north/upper side)

• न्यस्य: having placed
• न्यस्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-आस्/न्यस् (धातु; √अस्/√न्यस् in sense 'to place')
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), 'having placed'

• द्वितीयाम्: the second (one)
• द्वितीयाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण

• दक्षिणे: on the south/right side
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; दिशावाचक (on the south/right side)

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-आस्/न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; 'should place'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After oblations; during arrangement and brāhmaṇa-bhojana phase

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha efficacy depends on correct placement and learned guidance (vipra-sammantraṇa) and culminates in brāhmaṇa-bhojana.

Vedantic Theme: Sevā and dāna as purifying karma; honoring knowledge-bearers sustains dharma and transforms ritual into ethical action.

Application: Follow competent priestly guidance; arrange offerings by prescribed directions (first north, second south) and complete the rite by feeding qualified brāhmaṇas.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: household ritual space with directional layout

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.8 (placement rules; brāhmaṇa-bhojana as completion step)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas (Vipras)

FAQs

What is the importance of feeding brāhmaṇas in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse treats brāhmaṇa-bhojana as an integral step of the rite: after arranging the ritual items correctly, one should consult competent brāhmaṇas and feed them, thereby completing the prescribed śrāddha/antyeṣṭi duty in a dharmic way.

Why does the verse specify placing the first to the north and the second to the south?

Directional placement (north/south) is part of ritual order and sanctification in śrāddha contexts; the verse emphasizes that correct spatial arrangement of offerings accompanies the proper performance of post-death rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related observances, follow a qualified priest’s guidance, keep the ritual orderly (including directional setup where applicable), and prioritize respectful feeding/charity as a core expression of duty and remembrance.