Shloka 15
Śrāddha Vidhi (Pārvaṇa-Śrāddha): Invitations, Arghya, Protective Rites, Piṇḍa Offering, Dakṣiṇā, and Visarjana
पात्रमुद्रादि निधाय कुशं दत्त्वा अधोमुखाभ्यां पाणिभ्यां पात्रं गृहीत्वा ॐ पृथिवीते पात्रं द्यौरपिधानं ब्राह्मणस्य मुखे अमृते अमृतं जुहोमि स्वाहा पात्राभिमन्त्रणम् / इदं विष्णुर्विचक्रमे त्रेधा निदधे पदम् / समूढमस्य पांसुरे / विष्णो हव्यंरक्षस्व इत्यन्नमध्ये अधोमुखद्विजाङ्गुष्ठनिवेशनम्
pātramudrādi nidhāya kuśaṃ dattvā adhomukhābhyāṃ pāṇibhyāṃ pātraṃ gṛhītvā oṃ pṛthivīte pātraṃ dyaurapidhānaṃ brāhmaṇasya mukhe amṛte amṛtaṃ juhomi svāhā pātrābhimantraṇam / idaṃ viṣṇurvicakrame tredhā nidadhe padam / samūḍhamasya pāṃsure / viṣṇo havyaṃrakṣasva ityannamadhye adhomukhadvijāṅguṣṭhaniveśanam
Matapos ayusin ang mga ritwal na senyas ng kamay at maglagay ng isang dahon ng damong kuśa, dapat kunin ang sisidlan gamit ang parehong kamay na nakataob. Pagkatapos, binibigkas: “Oṁ—Ang Lupa ay iyong sisidlan; Ang Langit ay ang takip nito; sa bibig ng brāhmaṇa—sa loob ng walang kamatayan—sa walang kamatayan ako ay nag-aalay ng handog; svāhā,” kinokonsagrahan ng isa ang sisidlan. Pagkatapos, binibigkas: “Ang Viṣṇu na ito ay humakbang; sa tatlong hakbang ay ibinaba niya ang kanyang paa—ang kanyang pinakamataas na hakbang ay nakatago sa alabok,” at “O Viṣṇu, protektahan ang handog,” dapat ilagay ang nakataob na hinlalaki sa gitna ng pagkain.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra on ritual procedure)
Ritual Type: Parvana
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: During pātra-śuddhi and anna-saṃskāra within śrāddha sequence
Concept: All offerings are protected and pervaded by Viṣṇu; ritual objects become sacred through mantra and right handling.
Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmitva and vyāpti: Viṣṇu as the all-pervading ground of ritual efficacy; nāma-mantra as a purifier of action.
Application: Consecrate vessels with mantra before use; maintain correct hand orientation and mudrā; invoke Viṣṇu’s protection over food offered in śrāddha.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: ritual implement (pātra) and officiant’s presence
Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha passages using ‘pṛthivī te pātram…’ and ‘idaṃ viṣṇuḥ vicakrame…’ as standard consecrations; ‘viṣṇo havyaṃ rakṣasva’ protective refrain
FAQs
This verse shows that offerings are not merely physical food; the vessel and the offering are ritually sacralized through specific mantras, aligning the act with cosmic order (Earth as vessel, Heaven as cover) and making the offering fit for sacred use.
Although the verse is procedural, it supports the broader Garuda Purana ritual framework: purity and correct mantra-recitation ensure that offerings (anna/havya) become spiritually effective, which is essential in śrāddha and related observances.
Treat ritual acts with clarity and intention: keep vessels clean, follow a consistent method, and recite a short consecratory prayer before offering food—emphasizing reverence, purity, and mindful giving.