Shloka 19

Śrāddha Vidhi: Kāla (Timing), Pātra (Recipient), and Karma (Procedure) for Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and Piṇḍa

Devanagari script

कृत्वे दंविष्णुरित्येवं द्विजाङ्गुष्ठं निवेशयेत् / सव्याहृतिं च गायत्त्रीं मधुवातेत्यृचस्तथा

Transliteration

kṛtve daṃviṣṇurityevaṃ dvijāṅguṣṭhaṃ niveśayet / savyāhṛtiṃ ca gāyattrīṃ madhuvātetyṛcastathā

Translation

یوں کر کے “وِشنو” کا اُچار کرتے ہوئے دِوِج (برہمن) کے انگوٹھے کو قائم کرے؛ نیز ویاہرتیوں سمیت گایتری اور “مدھو واتا…” سے شروع ہونے والی رِچاؤں کی تلاوت بھی کرے۔

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative)

• एवम्: in this way
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• द्विजाङ्गुष्ठम्: the Brahmin’s thumb
• द्विजाङ्गुष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + अङ्गुष्ठ (समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठीतत्पुरुष (द्विजस्य अङ्गुष्ठः)

• निवेशयेत्: should place/insert
• निवेशयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + विश् (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: ‘cause to place’)

• सव्याहृतिम्: (the mantra) with the vyāhṛtis
• सव्याहृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + व्याहृति (समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (‘with the vyāhṛtis’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गायत्रीम्: the Gāyatrī (mantra)
• गायत्रीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• मधुवात: ‘Madhu-vāta…’ (name/opening of a ṛc)
• मधुवात: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुवात (प्रातिपदिक; ऋच्-आरम्भपद)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ऋग्वेद-ऋचः नामरूपेण

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative)

• ऋचः: verses (ṛks)
• ऋचः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन (पाठे ‘ऋचस्’ रूपम्)

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Kriya-vishesana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During consecration of offering/vessel immediately before offering/feeding

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Consecration is strengthened by invoking Viṣṇu and reciting Gāyatrī with vyāhṛtis; Vedic ṛc (‘madhu-vātā…’) adds auspicious harmony.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-smaraṇa within karma: ritual action becomes worship when suffused with divine name and Vedic illumination (Gāyatrī as dhī-preraṇā).

Application: Before offerings/food distribution, pause for a short, sincere mantra sequence (Viṣṇu-nāma + Gāyatrī) to center mind and sanctify the act.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha mantras: use of Viṣṇu-nāma, Gāyatrī, and purificatory ṛcs in consecration steps

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Gayatri
• Vyahritis

FAQs

What is the importance of chanting Gāyatrī with vyāhṛtis in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes Gāyatrī together with the vyāhṛtis as a sanctioned Vedic recitation used to sanctify and empower a ritual act, aligning it with Vedic purity and divine order.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals or purification rites?

By directing the use of Viṣṇu-nāma, Gāyatrī, and a specific ṛk (“madhu vātā…”), the verse indicates that key transitions and rites (including purificatory actions common in śrāddha/antyeṣṭi contexts) are supported through Vedic mantra-recitation for spiritual protection and auspiciousness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing traditional rites (or personal daily purification), recite mantras only as learned from a qualified teacher, keeping intention (śraddhā), cleanliness, and reverence—placing spiritual focus on Viṣṇu and disciplined Vedic remembrance.