Shloka 7

On Untimely Death and the Explanation of Pleasure and Pain, Gain and Loss

Vṛṣotsarga and Preta-Uddhāra Rites

Devanagari script

पिष्टकेन सकृद्धोमं पूषागा इति मन्त्रतः / उभयोः स्विष्टिकूद्धोमश्चरुणा पायसेन च

Transliteration

piṣṭakena sakṛddhomaṃ pūṣāgā iti mantrataḥ / ubhayoḥ sviṣṭikūddhomaścaruṇā pāyasena ca

Translation

پِشٹک (آٹے کی آہوتی) سے ‘پُوشاگا’ منتر کے مطابق ایک بار ہوم کرے۔ پھر دونوں کے لیے سوِشٹِکرت ہوم چَرو اور پَیاس کے ساتھ مکمل کرے۔

Word by Word

• पिष्टकेन: with piṣṭaka (flour-cake/meal offering)
• पिष्टकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• होमम्: homa/oblation
• होमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पूषा: Pūṣan (the deity Pūṣā)
• पूषा: Sambodhana/Mantra-pad (सम्बोधन/मन्त्रपद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (मन्त्रपद)

• आगाः: (you) come
• आगाः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (aorist/imperative-like injunctive in mantra), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘आगाः’ = come

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण-चिह्न

• मन्त्रतः: according to the mantra
• मन्त्रतः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्त्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) = ‘मन्त्रेण/मन्त्रानुसारम्’

• उभयोः: of both (of the two)
• उभयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (Genitive), द्विवचन

• स्विष्टिकृत्-होमः: the sviṣṭikṛt-homa (completion oblation)
• स्विष्टिकृत्-होमः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्विष्टिकृत् + होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्विष्टिकृतः होमः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चरुणा: with caru (cooked oblation)
• चरुणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• पायसेन: with payasa (milk-rice)
• पायसेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue teaching Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A rite is not merely begun but must be properly concluded; completion (sviṣṭikṛt) safeguards the intended fruit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed with saṅkalpa, correctness, and completion becomes purifying rather than binding through negligence.

Application: In any vow/ritual/commitment, include a clear completion step—review, dedicate results, and correct omissions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: homa-kunda / gṛhya fire setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.41.6 (offerings and deity portions); Garuda Purana 2.41.8 (prāyaścitta and concluding acts)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Agni
• Pusha

FAQs

What is the importance of sviṣṭikṛt homa in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse prescribes the sviṣṭikṛt (completion/rectifying) oblation to ensure the offering is properly concluded and made spiritually effective, using caru and pāyasa.

How does this verse explain the role of mantras in rites for the departed?

It states that the homa is to be done “mantrataḥ,” i.e., strictly with the prescribed mantra—here indicated by the phrase “pūṣāgā”—showing that correct mantra-usage is integral to the ritual’s validity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related rites, follow a competent priestly procedure: do offerings with the correct mantras and complete them with a proper concluding oblation, emphasizing careful, respectful observance rather than improvisation.