Shloka 27

Varṇāśrama-ācāra, Aśauca (Sūtaka) Regulations, and Prāyaścitta with Funeral-Rite Notes

Devanagari script

औरसः क्षेत्रजः पुत्रः पितृजौ पिण्डदौ पितुः / परिवित्तेस्तु कृच्छ्रं स्यात्कन्यायाः कृच्छ्रमेव च

Transliteration

aurasaḥ kṣetrajaḥ putraḥ pitṛjau piṇḍadau pituḥ / parivittestu kṛcchraṃ syātkanyāyāḥ kṛcchrameva ca

Translation

Der aus dem eigenen Leib geborene Sohn (aurasa) und der in der Gattin durch Bestimmung gezeugte Sohn (kṣetraja) — diese beiden spenden dem Vater die piṇḍa, die Totenreisballen. Wer jedoch den Älteren übergangen hat (parivitti), für den entsteht die Buße namens kṛcchra; und auch für eine Tochter ist kṛcchra wahrlich vorgeschrieben.

Word by Word

• औरसः: legitimate (born of the body)
• औरसः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: औरस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc. nom. sg.)

• क्षेत्रजः: field-born (son begotten on wife by another)
• क्षेत्रजः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षेत्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—क्षेत्रे जातः (locative-tatpuruṣa)

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• पितृजौ: father-born (two kinds, dual)
• पितृजौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण; समासः—पितृभ्यां जातौ/पितृजातौ (tatpuruṣa)

• पिण्डदौ: givers of the funeral offering (piṇḍa) (dual)
• पिण्डदौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिण्डद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण; समासः—पिण्डं ददाति इति (upapada-tatpuruṣa)

• पितुः: of the father
• पितुः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (masc. gen. sg.)

• परिवित्तेः: of the elder brother (who is passed over)
• परिवित्तेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवित्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (fem. gen. sg.)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• कृच्छ्रम्: a penance (kṛcchra)
• कृच्छ्रम्: Karma/Predicative (Object/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (neut. nom./acc. sg.)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (may be/should be)

• कन्यायाः: of the maiden/daughter
• कन्यायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (fem. gen. sg.)

• कृच्छ्रम्: a penance (kṛcchra)
• कृच्छ्रम्: Karma/Predicative (Object/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (neut. nom./acc. sg.)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (particle: only/indeed)

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

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (teaching Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha occasions (tithi-based; also applicable to annual rites) where piṇḍadātṛ is determined.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Only certain sons are primary piṇḍadāna agents for the father; specific social breaches entail kṛcchra penance.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṃskāra as regulators of social-ritual order; duty (svadharma) sustains ṛṇa (pitṛ-ṛṇa).

Application: In śrāddha planning, identify the rightful piṇḍadātā; where ‘parivitti’ or related breach is alleged, consult a dharma authority for appropriate prāyaścitta (kṛcchra).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (context: śrāddha/putra-dharma/prāyaścitta)

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa-dāna in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse identifies who is ritually authorized to offer piṇḍa to the father, highlighting piṇḍa-dāna as a key filial duty that supports ancestral rites (śrāddha) and continuity of obligations to the Pitṛs.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey described in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

While not describing Yama’s path directly, it establishes the dharmic framework of śrāddha and piṇḍa offerings—ritual supports repeatedly emphasized in Garuḍa Purāṇa discussions of post-death rites and the family’s responsibilities toward the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages clarity in ritual responsibility for ancestral rites and underscores that social/ritual transgressions (like bypassing elders) traditionally required expiation—modern readers can take it as a call to uphold family duties, humility, and ethical repair after wrongdoing.