Shloka 33

Śrāddha Vidhi (Pārvaṇa-Śrāddha): Invitations, Arghya, Protective Rites, Piṇḍa Offering, Dakṣiṇā, and Visarjana

Devanagari script

अयं श्राद्धविधिः प्रोक्तः पठितः पापनाशनः / अनेन विधिना श्राद्धं कृतं वै यत्र कुत्रचित्

Transliteration

ayaṃ śrāddhavidhiḥ proktaḥ paṭhitaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ / anena vidhinā śrāddhaṃ kṛtaṃ vai yatra kutracit

Translation

Diese विधि des Śrāddha ist verkündet worden; wird sie rezitiert, vernichtet sie Sünden. Nach eben diesem Verfahren kann Śrāddha wahrhaft vollzogen werden—wo immer man auch ist.

Word by Word

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• śrāddha-vidhiḥ: the śrāddha procedure
• śrāddha-vidhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; ‘rule/procedure of śrāddha’

• proktaḥ: declared, taught
• proktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra+vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Singular

• paṭhitaḥ: recited/read
• paṭhitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṭh (पठ् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Singular

• pāpa-nāśanaḥ: sin-destroying
• pāpa-nāśanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; ‘destroyer of sin’

• anena: by this
• anena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd) Singular, Masculine/Neuter; ‘by this’

• vidhinā: by the procedure
• vidhinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental Singular

• śrāddham: śrāddha rite
• śrāddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular

• kṛtam: done, performed
• kṛtam: Karma (कर्म) (result state)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter Accusative Singular; agreeing with śrāddham

• vai: indeed
• vai: Prayojaka (प्रयोजक) / emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (वै अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (यत्र अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (सम्बन्धबोधक)

• kutracit: anywhere
• kutracit: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kutracit (कुत्रचित् अव्यय)
• Form: Indefinite adverb (अनिश्चित-देशवाचक)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Phalaśruti/conclusion of the śrāddha-vidhi section

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha-vidhi as śāstra-sanctioned purifier; recitation (pāṭha) itself is pāpa-nāśana; the procedure enables performance regardless of place.

Vedantic Theme: śabda-pramāṇa and mantra/śāstra as purifying force; dharma as a means to inner cleansing supporting higher pursuits.

Application: Study/recite the śrāddha procedure with attention; perform śrāddha according to this method even when away from customary locations, maintaining essential steps and sincerity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.218 colophon-style assurance of śrāddha-vidhi efficacy

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of Śrāddha-vidhi in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the taught Śrāddha procedure is spiritually efficacious: even its recitation is said to destroy sins, emphasizing Śrāddha as a dharmic act with purifying power.

Does the Garuda Purana allow Śrāddha to be done outside one’s home or in a different place?

Yes. The phrase “yatra kutracit” indicates that, following this method, Śrāddha can be performed wherever circumstances permit, reinforcing adaptability while keeping the rite’s core procedure intact.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain sincerity and correct intention in ancestral rites; if travel or constraints prevent a traditional setting, perform Śrāddha as per the prescribed method wherever possible, and support it with respectful recitation and remembrance.