Shloka 13

Sup–Tiṅ Foundations: Prātipadika, Vibhaktis/Kārakas, and Lakāras

Tense–Mood System

Devanagari script

नमः स्वस्तिस्वधास्वाहालंवषड्योग ईरिता / चतुर्थो चैव तादर्थ्ये तुमर्थाद्भाववाचिनः

Transliteration

namaḥ svastisvadhāsvāhālaṃvaṣaḍyoga īritā / caturtho caiva tādarthye tumarthādbhāvavācinaḥ

Translation

“namaḥ”“svasti”“svadhā”“svāhā”“alaṁ”“vaṣaṭ”等语，被教授为固定的祭仪诵词（yoga）。又说第四种用法：在所意指的意义中，后缀“-tum”以行为/状态之意（bhāva）为其所表。

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Interjection/उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (नमः-शब्दः; विसर्गान्त, fixed form used as interjection)

• स्वस्ति: hail; well-being
• स्वस्ति: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वस्ति (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: मङ्गलार्थक-अव्यय (benedictive particle)

• स्वधा: svadhā (ritual exclamation)
• स्वधा: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वधा (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: पितृयज्ञे प्रयुक्तम् अव्ययम् (ritual particle)

• स्वाहा: svāhā (ritual exclamation)
• स्वाहा: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वाहा (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: होमकाले प्रयुक्तम् अव्ययम् (ritual particle)

• अलम्: enough; sufficient
• अलम्: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पर्याप्त्यर्थे/निषेधार्थे (enough; sufficient)

• वषट्: vaṣaṭ (ritual exclamation)
• वषट्: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वषट् (अव्यय)
• Form: यज्ञीय-निपातः (ritual exclamation)

• योगः: the construction/usage (with)
• योगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• ईरिता: has been stated/declared
• ईरिता: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘has been stated’ (agreeing with implied ‘विभक्ति/चतुर्थी’)

• चतुर्थः: the dative (fourth case)
• चतुर्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; विभक्तिनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (emphasis)

• तादर्थ्ये: in the sense of purpose (for that)
• तादर्थ्ये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तादर्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular

• तुमर्थात्: from the sense of the infinitive (tumun)
• तुमर्थात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुमर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; तुमुन्-अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन — Ablative singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tumunasya arthaḥ)

• भाववाचिनः: of (words) denoting a state/abstract noun
• भाववाचिनः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाव-वाचिन् (प्रातिपदिक; भाव + वाचिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (bhāvasya vācī)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinataputra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śabda as kriyā-sādhana: fixed utterances (namaḥ, svasti, svadhā, svāhā, alaṁ, vaṣaṭ) function as ritual yogas; additionally, grammatical teaching that -tum expresses intended purpose/aim (tādarthya) and bhāva (action-idea).

Vedantic Theme: Power of śabda (mantra) within karma-kāṇḍa; disciplined semantics prevents ritual and doctrinal error.

Application: In ritual translations, treat these as performative utterances rather than ordinary nouns; in composition, use -tum to express purpose (‘to do X’) and recognize when it denotes the action-idea rather than a concrete object.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.205: cluster of vibhakti/avyaya rules; this verse bridges grammar with ritual speech

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of “svadhā” and “svāhā” in Garuda Purana?

This verse distinguishes standard ritual utterances: “svadhā” is aligned with offerings to the Pitṛs in śrāddha contexts, while “svāhā” is used for offerings to the Devas—showing correct address and intention in rites.

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

By listing “svadhā” (Pitṛ-formula) among authoritative yogas, it reinforces that śrāddha offerings must be accompanied by the proper verbal formula, which is central to post-death rites described in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing ancestral rites or homa, use the correct formula for the intended recipient—“svadhā” for ancestors and “svāhā” for deities—so the ritual intention (saṅkalpa) and addressing remain precise.