Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 123

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

Devanagari script

पुत्रो नास्ति न भर्ता च स्त्रीणां तार्क्ष्य सपिण्डनम् / कारयेद्वृद्धिसमये भ्रातृदायाददेवरैः

Transliteration

putro nāsti na bhartā ca strīṇāṃ tārkṣya sapiṇḍanam / kārayedvṛddhisamaye bhrātṛdāyādadevaraiḥ

Translation

يا تاركشيا (غارودا)، إذا كانت المرأة لا ابنَ لها ولا زوج، فعند الوقت اللائق تُقام شعيرة السَّپينْديكارَنا (التي تُلحق الراحل بسلسلة الأسلاف) على يد إخوتها، أو ورثة العائلة، أو إخوة زوجها الأصغر سنًّا.

Word by Word

• पुत्रः: a son
• पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• अस्ति: exists/is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• भर्ता: husband
• भर्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• तार्क्ष्य: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• तार्क्ष्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा (Vocative/Nominative), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे प्रयुक्तम्

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

• कारयेत्: should cause to be performed
• कारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) [णिच् causative: कारय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• वृद्धि-समये: at the time of increase/auspicious occasion
• वृद्धि-समये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वृद्धेः समयः)

• भ्रातृ-दायाद-देवरैः: by brothers, heirs, and brothers-in-law
• भ्रातृ-दायाद-देवरैः: Karana (करण/Instrument-Agent-associate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + दायाद (प्रातिपदिक) + देवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (brothers, heirs, and brothers-in-law)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, instructing Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: vṛddhi-samaye (proper/appointed time per śrāddha schedule)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When primary ritual agents are absent, dharma appoints substitute kin (brothers, heirs, devaras) to complete sapīṇḍīkaraṇa at the proper time.

Vedantic Theme: Kartavya-buddhi (duty without personal preference) sustaining ṛṇa (ancestral debt) and saṃskāra order.

Application: Maintain a clear family protocol for who performs post-death rites for women lacking son/husband; ensure timing is ‘vṛddhi-samaya’ (appropriate/auspicious window per tradition).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta-kalpa/Śrāddha-kāṇḍa sections on sapīṇḍīkaraṇa and substitute kartṛs; Adjacent verses 2.34.124-127 on ekoddiṣṭa, missed rites, and proper agency

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tarkshya)
• Pitris (implied through sapinda rite)
• Heirs (Dayada)
• Devara (husband’s younger brother)

FAQs

What is the importance of sapīṇḍīkaraṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights sapīṇḍīkaraṇa as the rite that ritually connects the departed to the Pitṛ-line, ensuring the deceased is recognized within the ancestral community even when direct male support (son/husband) is absent.

Who can perform the funeral rites if a woman has no son or husband?

According to this verse, her brothers, other lawful heirs (dāyāda), or her husband’s younger brothers (devara) may perform the sapīṇḍīkaraṇa at the appointed time.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It supports responsible continuity of last rites within the wider family network—encouraging relatives and legal heirs to ensure proper śrāddha-related duties are not neglected due to absence of a son or spouse.