Shloka 11

Śrāddha Vidhi: Kāla (Timing), Pātra (Recipient), and Karma (Procedure) for Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and Piṇḍa

Devanagari script

आवाह्य तदनुज्ञातो विश्वदेवासैत्यृचा / यवैरन्नं विकीर्याथ भाजने सपवित्रके

Transliteration

āvāhya tadanujñāto viśvadevāsaityṛcā / yavairannaṃ vikīryātha bhājane sapavitrake

Translation

Nachdem man sie angerufen und die Erlaubnis erhalten hat, soll man dann mit einem an die Viśvedevas gerichteten Ṛk-Vers Nahrung, die mit Gerste vermischt ist, in ein Gefäß streuen, das rituell gereinigt wurde (mit Pavitra-Gras).

Word by Word

• आवाह्य: having invoked
• आवाह्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√वह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (that/it)

• अनुज्ञातः: having been permitted/authorized
• अनुज्ञातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + ज्ञात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अनु√ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; कर्तृ-विशेषण (one who is permitted)

• विश्वदेवाः: the Viśvedevas
• विश्वदेवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; देव-विशेषणसमास

• एति: goes/recites (lit. goes)
• एति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ऋचा: with a ṛc (Vedic verse)
• ऋचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण (by means of a ṛc/verse)

• यवैः: with barley grains
• यवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• विकीर्य: having scattered/sprinkled
• विकीर्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√कॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर-अव्यय (sequence particle: then)

• भाजने: in a vessel
• भाजने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• सपवित्रके: with a pavitraka (purifying ring/grass)
• सपवित्रके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + पवित्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (भाजने)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After āvāhana and anujñā; during mantra-guided offering to Viśvedevas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-authorized offering: āvāhana and anujñā precede distribution; pavitra and yava (barley) function as purity and continuity symbols.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as disciplined intentionality—right mantra, right sequence, right purity—transforming food into sacred oblation.

Application: Invoke the intended deities, seek ritual permission, recite the Viśvedevas ṛk, and offer food mixed with barley into a pavitra-purified vessel.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual altar/vessel area (bhājana with pavitra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99 (Viśvedevas role; āvāhana-anujñā; yava; pavitra)

Characters & Entities

• Viśvedevas

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking the Viśvedevas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the Viśvedevas as the divine recipients/witnesses for the rite, indicating that offerings become properly sanctioned when made after invocation and permission.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death?

By prescribing correct śrāddha-style offerings, it supports the post-death welfare of the departed through ritually authorized acts, a recurring Garuda Purana theme for aiding the preta’s onward passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform remembrance/ancestral rites with cleanliness, proper intention, and traditional procedure—symbolized here by a purified vessel, pavitra (kuśa), and a disciplined offering.