Shloka 25
Śrāddha Vidhi (Pārvaṇa-Śrāddha): Invitations, Arghya, Protective Rites, Piṇḍa Offering, Dakṣiṇā, and Visarjana
वामेनैव परावृत्य पुष्पदानम् / अक्षतञ्चारिष्टञ्चास्तु मे पुण्यं शान्तिपुष्टिदृ / दक्षिणामुखः अमी मदन्तः पितरो यथाभागमावृषायिषत इति जपः / वासः शिथिलीकृत्वाञ्जलिं कृत्वा ॐ नमो वः पितरो नमो वः इति जपः / गृहान्नः पितरो दत्त इति गृहवीक्षणम् / ततः सदा वः पितरो द्वेष्म इति वीक्ष्य एतद्वः पितरो वास इत्युच्चार्य अमुकगोत्र एतत्ते वासः स्वधा इति सूत्रदानम् / वामेन पाणिना उदकपात्रं गृहीत्वा ऊर्जं वहन्तीरमृतं घृतं पयः इत्यादि पिण्डोपरि धारात्यागः
vāmenaiva parāvṛtya puṣpadānam / akṣatañcāriṣṭañcāstu me puṇyaṃ śāntipuṣṭidṛ / dakṣiṇāmukhaḥ amī madantaḥ pitaro yathābhāgamāvṛṣāyiṣata iti japaḥ / vāsaḥ śithilīkṛtvāñjaliṃ kṛtvā oṃ namo vaḥ pitaro namo vaḥ iti japaḥ / gṛhānnaḥ pitaro datta iti gṛhavīkṣaṇam / tataḥ sadā vaḥ pitaro dveṣma iti vīkṣya etadvaḥ pitaro vāsa ityuccārya amukagotra etatte vāsaḥ svadhā iti sūtradānam / vāmena pāṇinā udakapātraṃ gṛhītvā ūrjaṃ vahantīramṛtaṃ ghṛtaṃ payaḥ ityādi piṇḍopari dhārātyāgaḥ
Sich nach links wendend, opfere man Blumen und bete: ‚Möge mein Verdienst Frieden und Nahrung bringen.‘ Nach Süden blickend rezitiere man: ‚Mögen diese meine Ahnen zufrieden sein und ihren Anteil erhalten.‘ Das Gewand lockernd und die Hände faltend, chante man: ‚Om – Ehrerbietung euch, o Pitṛs.‘ Dann blicke man zum Haus und sage: ‚O Pitṛs, gewährt unserem Haus Segen.‘ Dann gebe man den heiligen Faden und sage: ‚Für das Geschlecht (so-und-so), dies ist euer Gewand – svadhā.‘ Das Wassergefäß in der linken Hand haltend, gieße man einen stetigen Strom auf das Pinda und rezitiere Mantras über Kraft, Nektar, Ghee und Milch.
Lord Viṣṇu instructing Garuḍa (Vinātā-putra) on śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna rites
Ritual Type: Parvana
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Śrāddha sequence step following piṇḍa placement; typically during daytime śrāddha window
Concept: Pitṛs are honored through offerings and salutations; their satisfaction is sought ‘yathā-bhāga’ and their blessing is invited for the household.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma as harmonizing the seen (gṛhastha welfare) and unseen (pitṛ-loka connection) through prescribed action and mantra.
Application: Offer flowers and akṣata, recite pitṛ-salutations, perform gṛha-vīkṣaṇa prayer, give symbolic ‘vāsa/sūtra’ to Pitṛs, and pour a continuous water-stream over piṇḍa with nourishing mantras (ūrja/amṛta/ghṛta/payas).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: home/courtyard śrāddha space with sightline to the house (gṛha-vīkṣaṇa)
Related Themes: Continuation of the same śrāddha sequence in 1.218.24 and 1.218.26-28
FAQs
In this verse, facing south (the Pitṛ-direction) and chanting “namo vaḥ pitaraḥ” formally addresses the ancestors and invites them to receive their allotted share (yathābhāga) of the offering.
It specifies holding the water-vessel in the left hand and pouring a continuous stream (dhārā) over the piṇḍa while reciting mantras invoking vitality (ūrj), nectar (amṛta), ghee (ghṛta), and milk (payaḥ).
Even when simplified, the verse emphasizes reverence, correct intention, and orderly offering—honoring ancestors, remembering lineage (gotra), and performing charity/offerings with mindfulness.