Shloka 31

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

यस्मादन्नरसाः सर्वे नोत्कटा लवणं विना / पितॄणां च प्रियं भव्यं तस्मात्स्वर्गप्रदं भवेत्

Transliteration

yasmādannarasāḥ sarve notkaṭā lavaṇaṃ vinā / pitṝṇāṃ ca priyaṃ bhavyaṃ tasmātsvargapradaṃ bhavet

Translation

کیونکہ نمک کے بغیر کھانے کے سب ذائقے پوری طرح ظاہر نہیں ہوتے، اور یہ پِتروں کو بھی محبوب و مبارک ہے؛ اسی لیے نمک کو سَورگ دینے والا (ثواب بخش) کہا گیا ہے۔

Word by Word

• यस्मात्: because of which/from which
• यस्मात्: Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• अन्नरसाः: tastes of food
• अन्नरसाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अन्नस्य रसाः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negative particle)

• उत्कटाः: strong/pungent
• उत्कटाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्कट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• लवणम्: salt
• लवणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Exclusion/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अपवर्जनार्थक अव्यय/उपपद (without); उपपदयोगे द्वितीया

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• प्रियम्: dear, pleasing
• प्रियम्: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण/नामरूपेण (dear/pleasing thing)

• भव्यम्: auspicious, proper
• भव्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (fit/auspicious)

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apādāna (Reason/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वर्गप्रदम्: granting heaven
• स्वर्गप्रदम्: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक); प्रद = प्र + दा (धातु) + क
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वर्गस्य प्रदम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भवेत्: would be/should become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Salt completes rasa (taste) and is pitṛ-priya; therefore its gifting/offering yields svarga-phala.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of ritual action and subtle results (adr̥ṣṭa-phala) within karma theory; honoring lineage as part of dharmic order.

Application: In śrāddha-adjacent hospitality and feeding, ensure offerings are complete and pleasing (including salt), cultivating gratitude toward ancestors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.30 (pāpa-kṣaya by dāna); Garuda Purana 2.2.32 (Vişṇu-origin of salt); Garuda Purana 2.2.34 (svarga-dvāra imagery)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of salt (lavaṇa) in Garuda Purana śrāddha rites?

This verse states that salt makes food’s taste complete and is especially pleasing to the Pitṛs; therefore, including it in offerings is treated as meritorious and “svarga-prada” (heaven-giving).

How does this verse connect offerings to the after-death journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, properly prepared offerings are taught as a means to please and support ancestral beings; pleasing the Pitṛs is presented as generating puṇya (merit) that benefits the departed and the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha/tarpaṇa or feeding guests in memory of ancestors, prepare offerings thoughtfully and traditionally—this verse highlights that even simple items like salt can be considered significant when offered with dharmic intent.