Shloka 38

Śrāddha Vidhi: Kāla (Timing), Pātra (Recipient), and Karma (Procedure) for Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and Piṇḍa

Devanagari script

ऐणरौरववा राहशाशमांसैर्यथाक्रमम् / मासवृद्ध्यापि तुष्यन्ति दत्तैरिह पितामहाः

Transliteration

aiṇarauravavā rāhaśāśamāṃsairyathākramam / māsavṛddhyāpi tuṣyanti dattairiha pitāmahāḥ

Translation

هنا يرضى الأجدادُ (الپِتْر) إذا قُدِّمَتِ القرابينُ على الترتيب المأثور بلحوم eṇa (ظبيٍّ)، وraurava (نوعٍ من الأيائل)، وrāha، ولحم الأرنب؛ وحتى إن زِيدَتِ الكميةُ شهرًا بعد شهر، فإنهم يَسْتَبْشِرون ويَرضَون بما أُعطي.

Word by Word

• ऐण: deer/antelope (meat)
• ऐण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे बहुवचन-तृतीया-समासाङ्ग (in compound; ‘of deer/antelope’)

• रौरव: raurava (a specific kind)
• रौरव: Visheshya (Head-noun in compound/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे बहुवचन-तृतीया-समासाङ्ग (in compound; a kind of animal/meat)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• राह: rāha (a specific kind)
• राह: Visheshya (Head-noun in compound/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे बहुवचन-तृतीया-समासाङ्ग (in compound; a kind of animal/meat)

• शाश: hare
• शाश: Visheshya (Head-noun in compound/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे बहुवचन-तृतीया-समासाङ्ग (in compound; hare/rabbit)

• मांसैः: with meats
• मांसैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• यथाक्रमम्: in due order
• यथाक्रमम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-क्रम (अव्ययीभावसमास; यथा + क्रम)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मासवृद्ध्या: by monthly increase
• मासवृद्ध्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास-वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक; मासस्य वृद्धि:)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; हेतौ/साधने (by increase)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—अपि/यद्यपि (also/even)

• तुष्यन्ति: are satisfied
• तुष्यन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दत्तैः: by what is given
• दत्तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पितामहाः: the forefathers (pitṛs)
• पितामहाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitamaha

Timing: Recurring monthly observance implied by ‘māsa-vṛddhyā’.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛs (here ‘pitāmahāḥ’) are satisfied by specific meats in prescribed sequence; increasing quantity month by month enhances/extends satisfaction.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-niyama: precise causes (dravya, krama, mātra) yield precise effects; dharma as a technology of sacred reciprocity.

Application: Follow the stated order and proportional increase (māsa-vṛddhi) in offerings during recurring śrāddha observances, maintaining śauca and correct saṅkalpa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: śrāddha venue (gṛha/vedi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Adjacent Garuda Purana śrāddha verses on dravya-krama and pitṛ-tṛpti durations (1.99.36-45 context)

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

What is the importance of month-wise increase (māsavṛddhi) in Garuda Purana śrāddha?

This verse states that the Pitṛs are pleased when offerings are made in the prescribed sequence, even with a month-by-month increase—indicating a structured, gradual pattern of giving in śrāddha observance.

How does this verse explain the purpose of offerings to the ancestors?

It frames offerings (dāna in the śrāddha context) as a direct means of satisfying the Pitṛs, emphasizing correct order (yathākramam) and proper items as the key ritual principle.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow śrāddha practices in a dhārmic, text-guided way—prioritizing sincerity, correct procedure, and culturally appropriate substitutions as advised by one’s tradition and family priest.