Shloka 131

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

विधिज्ञास्तर्पणं कुर्युर्न पात्रे तु कदाचन / यदपां क्रूरमांसात्तु यदमेध्यं तु किञ्चन

Transliteration

vidhijñāstarpaṇaṃ kuryurna pātre tu kadācana / yadapāṃ krūramāṃsāttu yadamedhyaṃ tu kiñcana

Translation

جو لوگ طریقۂ عبادت جانتے ہیں وہ ترپن کریں، مگر کبھی بھی ناموزوں برتن میں نہیں۔ اور وہ پانی بھی نہ لیں جو کچے گوشت کے لمس سے یا کسی بھی ناپاک چیز سے آلودہ ہو۔

Word by Word

• विधिज्ञाः: those who know the rule
• विधिज्ञाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विधिं जानन्ति)

• तर्पणम्: libation/oblatory satisfaction rite
• तर्पणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कुर्युः: should do
• कुर्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• पात्रे: in a vessel
• पात्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अनुयोग (but/indeed)

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (ever/at any time)

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (that which)

• अपाम्: of waters
• अपाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रयोग), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• क्रूरमांसात्: from cruel meat
• क्रूरमांसात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रूर + मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (क्रूरं मांसम् = cruel/fierce meat)

• तु: and/but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/विरोध (and/but)

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (that which)

• अमेध्यम्: impure/unclean
• अमेध्यम्: Karta (Subject complement/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमेध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• किञ्चन: anything
• किञ्चन: Adverbial/Indefinite (अनिश्चित)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चन (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्यय; अनिश्चित-परिमाण (any/something; indefinite particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During tarpaṇa/śrāddha performance (general rule)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adhikāra and śauca: only those who know the rite should perform tarpaṇa, and never with unfit vessels or polluted water; purity safeguards the rite’s truthfulness.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva as prerequisite for subtle ritual communication; discipline of means (upāya-śuddhi) conditions results.

Application: Use clean, appropriate vessels; ensure water is uncontaminated; avoid performing rites in contexts involving impurity (e.g., contact with raw meat).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: ritual site (tarpaṇa setting)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.128-130 (tarpaṇa sequence and conduct)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity in Garuda Purana tarpaṇa?

This verse stresses that tarpaṇa must be done with a proper vessel and uncontaminated water; impurity (amedhya) invalidates the sanctity of offerings meant for the Pitṛs.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and śrāddha?

Tarpaṇa is a core component of śrāddha; the verse gives a technical purity rule—avoid unfit utensils and water tainted by impure substances—so the ancestral rite remains dharmically effective.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

For śrāddha/tarpaṇa, use clean dedicated vessels and fresh, uncontaminated water; keep ritual items separate from kitchens handling meat/impure contact to maintain prescribed purity.