Shloka 11

Devotpatti-nirūpaṇa — Hari’s Pūrṇatva

Completeness) and the Ritual Doctrine of Sāra (Essence

Devanagari script

निषिद्धान्सर्वशाकस्य सारांस्तथा निपिद्धाल्लांवणस्वापि सारान् / गृह्णाति विष्णुः परमादरेण अन्नस्य सारं भक्ष्यभोज्यस्य सारम्

Transliteration

niṣiddhānsarvaśākasya sārāṃstathā nipiddhāllāṃvaṇasvāpi sārān / gṛhṇāti viṣṇuḥ paramādareṇa annasya sāraṃ bhakṣyabhojyasya sāram

Translation

Đức Viṣṇu, với lòng tôn kính tối thượng, thọ nhận tinh chất vi tế của thức ăn—tức tinh chất của mọi điều ăn uống—dẫu phát xuất từ rau và các món mặn bị cấm.

Word by Word

• निषिद्धान्: forbidden
• निषिद्धान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निषिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• सर्वशाकस्य: of all vegetables/greens
• सर्वशाकस्य: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (sarvaṃ śākam)

• सारान्: essences
• सारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘likewise’

• निषिद्धात्: from the forbidden (items)
• निषिद्धात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निषिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; ‘from (what is) forbidden’

• लवणस्य: of salt
• लवणस्य: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) ‘also/even’

• सारान्: essences
• सारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• गृह्णाति: takes/accepts
• गृह्णाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• परमादरेण: with great reverence
• परमादरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (paramaḥ ādaraḥ)

• अन्नस्य: of food
• अन्नस्य: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• सारम्: essence
• सारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• भक्ष्यभोज्यस्य: of eatables and foods
• भक्ष्यभोज्यस्य: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य + भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (bhakṣyaṃ ca bhojyaṃ ca)

• सारम्: essence
• सारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During shraddha feeding/naivedya where questions of food suitability arise.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord receives the subtle essence of offerings; devotional intent and the ‘sāra’ matter more than the gross form, even when items are ordinarily restricted.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryami/Ishvara as inner enjoyer (bhokta) of offerings; subtlety over grossness; grace overriding limitation when devotion is present.

Application: Do not become cynical or despairing over imperfections; prioritize sincerity, purity of intent, and adherence to rules where possible, trusting the Lord’s grace.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/offerings space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.14.10, 3.14.12-14 (catalog of ‘sāra’ accepted by Vishnu)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘sāra’ (essence) of food in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that beyond the gross act of eating, there is a subtle ‘essence’ (sāra) of food; Vishnu is said to receive that essence, highlighting the spiritual dimension of diet and purity.

Does this verse mean forbidden foods are acceptable since Vishnu takes their essence?

No; the verse underscores Vishnu’s supremacy over the subtle essence, not a license to ignore prohibitions—dietary rules remain part of dharma and ritual purity in this context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat food as sacred: choose sattvic, ethically obtained भोजन, and maintain discipline in dietary vows—especially during rites, fasting days, or ancestral observances.