Shloka 117

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

अस्थानिकापि या व्यूढा वैश्या वा क्षत्त्रियापि वा / याः पत्न्यो वै पितुः कश्चित् कुर्यात् पुत्रः सपिण्डनम्

Transliteration

asthānikāpi yā vyūḍhā vaiśyā vā kṣattriyāpi vā / yāḥ patnyo vai pituḥ kaścit kuryāt putraḥ sapiṇḍanam

Translation

حتى لو كانت الزوجة غير مستوفية لما يُعدّ «مقامًا لائقًا»، أو كانت امرأة مُعادَة الزواج—سواء كانت فَيْشْيا (Vaiśyā) أو كْشَتْرِيا (Kṣatriyā)—فأيّ زوجاتٍ كان للأب، فعلى الابن أن يُقيم له شعيرة السابينديكارانا (sapiṇḍīkaraṇa).

Word by Word

• अ-स्थानिका: not duly established (as wife)
• अ-स्थानिका: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थानिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-समास (‘not rightful/without proper status’) — qualifies ‘या’

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• या: who
• या: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• व्यूढा: married
• व्यूढा: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यूढ (कृदन्त; √वह्/√व्यूह् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘married/espoused’

• वैश्या: a Vaiśya woman
• वैश्या: पूरक (Predicate complement/पूरक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate/appositive

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive ‘or’)

• क्षत्त्रिया: a Kṣatriya woman
• क्षत्त्रिया: पूरक (Predicate complement/पूरक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्रिया/क्षत्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate/appositive

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• याः: those who
• याः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; relative pronoun — subject of implied clause

• पत्न्यः: wives
• पत्न्यः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/indeed)

• पितुः: of the father
• पितुः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive

• कश्चित्: someone / any (son)
• कश्चित्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite pronoun)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• पुत्रः: a son
• पुत्रः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; apposition to ‘कश्चित्’

• सपिण्डनम्: sapiṇḍana rite
• सपिण्डनम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपिण्डन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As part of the prescribed post-death sequence culminating in sapiṇḍīkaraṇa; applies to whichever wives the father had, even in contested-status cases.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The son’s ritual responsibility is comprehensive: he should perform sapiṇḍīkaraṇa for the father (and, by extension in the stated cases, for the father’s wives), even when their social status is disputed or they are remarried.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as duty beyond personal preference: ritual completeness reduces saṃskāra-fragmentation and supports familial peace (loka-saṅgraha).

Application: In complex family structures, do not omit rites for dependents/spouses of the deceased due to stigma; follow śāstric/locale guidance to include all entitled relations in memorial integration rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha eligibility rules for women and dependents connected to the deceased; Garuda Purana discussions on who is to be included in sapiṇḍīkaraṇa and how lineage membership is ritually affirmed

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Putra (son)
• Pitu (father)

FAQs

What is the importance of sapiṇḍīkaraṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that sapiṇḍīkaraṇa is a son’s essential duty to unite the departed with the Pitṛs (ancestral lineage) through piṇḍa offerings, ensuring proper ancestral integration.

Does the verse restrict the rite based on the father’s wives’ status or background?

No. The verse states that regardless of a wife being considered ‘improper’ in status or being remarried, and regardless of varṇa mentioned here (Vaiśyā/Kṣatriyā), the son should still perform the father’s sapiṇḍīkaraṇa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize fulfilling core ancestral duties (śrāddha/piṇḍa-related rites or their sincere equivalents) without social prejudice, focusing on responsibility, continuity, and respect for lineage.