Shloka 38

Dāna-vrata and the Tīrtha Circuit of Venkaṭādri

Snāna, Mantra, Naivedya

Devanagari script

नैवेद्यभक्षिणां पुंसामुपहासं न कारयेत् / स्वस्य प्राशस्त्यभावे तु नैवेद्यादि गुडादिकम् / ग्राह्यमेव न संदेहो अन्यथा नारकी भवेत्

Transliteration

naivedyabhakṣiṇāṃ puṃsāmupahāsaṃ na kārayet / svasya prāśastyabhāve tu naivedyādi guḍādikam / grāhyameva na saṃdeho anyathā nārakī bhavet

Translation

不可使人讥笑那些食用已奉献之供品（naivedya）者。若自身缺乏相称的生计之食，则供品、粗糖（jaggery）等当可受用——毫无疑虑；否则便成堕入那落迦（naraka，地狱）之人。

Word by Word

• naivedya-bhakṣiṇām: of those who eat the offering
• naivedya-bhakṣiṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naivedya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘naivedya-eaters’)

• puṃsām: of men/persons
• puṃsām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• upahāsam: mockery
• upahāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upahāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• kārayet: should cause / should make (someone do)
• kārayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative) ‘to cause to do’

• svasya: of oneself
• svasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; reflexive ‘one’s own’

• prāśastya-abhāve: in the absence of (one’s) fitness/merit
• prāśastya-abhāve: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāśastya (प्रातिपदिक) + abhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘absence of excellence/fitness’)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle: but)

• naivedya-ādi: naivedya etc.
• naivedya-ādi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naivedya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘naivedya and the like’) used as qualifier

• guḍa-ādikam: jaggery etc. (items)
• guḍa-ādikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘jaggery and the like’)

• grāhyam: should be accepted
• grāhyam: Vidhi (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: grah (धातु) > grāhya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/obligatory) ‘to be accepted’

• eva: certainly
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (restrictive particle: only/indeed)

• na: no / not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• saṃdehaḥ: doubt
• saṃdehaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃdeha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (otherwise)

• nārakī: one destined for hell
• nārakī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nārakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; adjective ‘hellish/one destined for hell’

• bhavet: would become
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Respect for consecrated offerings and for devotees; avoiding ridicule (upahāsa) and honoring prasāda as sacred; pragmatic dharma when resources are limited.

Vedantic Theme: Prasāda-buddhi and īśvara-arpita as sanctifying ordinary acts; aparādha (offense) as a spiritual impediment.

Application: Do not mock religious food practices; treat prasāda with respect; if in need, accept sanctified food without shame; avoid contempt that becomes an offense.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: dharma

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.27.39 on offering before eating; nearby discourse on Veṅkaṭeśa worship norms.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Naraka

FAQs

What is the importance of naivedya (prasada) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats naivedya as sacred and protected by dharma: mocking those who partake is prohibited, and accepting such sanctified food is permitted when no better option exists.

How does this verse relate to karma and punishment (naraka) in the Garuda Purana?

It links disrespect or improper conduct around consecrated offerings to negative karmic consequence, explicitly warning that failure to follow this guidance can make one 'nārakī' (fit for hellish suffering).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not ridicule devotees for eating prasada/naivedya; treat consecrated offerings with respect, and if circumstances leave no better food option, accept such sanctified items without guilt while maintaining reverence.