Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

द्विगुणांस्तु कुशान्दत्त्वा उशन्तस्त्वेत्यृचा पितॄन् / आवाह्य तदनु ज्ञातो जपेदायन्तुनस्ततः

Transliteration

dviguṇāṃstu kuśāndattvā uśantastvetyṛcā pitṝn / āvāhya tadanu jñāto japedāyantunastataḥ

Translation

Nachdem man kuśa-Gras in doppelter Menge dargebracht hat, rufe man mit dem Ṛgveda-Vers, der mit „uśantas tvā…“ beginnt, die Pitṛs herbei. Danach, des rechten Verfahrens kundig, rezitiere man: „Mögen sie zu uns kommen.“

Word by Word

• द्विगुणान्: double; twice (in number)
• द्विगुणान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (plural); द्विगु-समास (द्वौ गुणौ यस्य/द्विगुण)

• तु: but; and then
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle)

• कुशान्: kuśa grass blades
• कुशान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• दत्त्वा: having given/placed
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• उशन्तः: desiring; wishing
• उशन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उशत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वश्/उश्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक (quotative)

• ऋचा: with a ṛk-verse (hymn)
• ऋचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच्/ऋचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• पितॄन्: the ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• आवाह्य: having invoked
• आवाह्य: Kriya (Gerundial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वह् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष (gerund), ‘having invoked/brought near’

• तदनु: thereafter
• तदनु: Sambandha (Temporal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् + अनु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (adverbial compound) — ‘thereafter’

• ज्ञातः: being informed/knowing; having understood
• ज्ञातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (singular)

• जपेत्: should recite/mutter
• जपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• आयन्तु: let them come
• आयन्तु: Kriya (Quoted mantra action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• नः: to/for us; our
• नः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Temporal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the āvāhana segment of śrāddha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āvāhana (invocation) is effected by correct dravya (kuśa) measure and Vedic ṛc; knowledge of vidhi plus japa completes the call.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-prāmāṇya (authority of mantra) and disciplined action as a means of aligning with ṛta (order).

Application: Use kuśa in the prescribed quantity; chant the specified Ṛgvedic verse for Pitṛ-āvāhana; follow with the ‘āyantu naḥ’ style invitation-japa as instructed by tradition/teacher.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: śrāddha-vedi / kuśa-seat arrangement

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99: Pitṛ-āvāhana sequence; kuśa, arghya, tilā usage

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Kuśa

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking the Pitṛs in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse highlights Pitṛ-āvāhana (invocation of ancestors) as a required step: offerings (kuśa) and Vedic mantra are used to invite the Pitṛs so the rite (such as śrāddha/tarpaṇa) becomes properly received.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly, it supports the Garuda Purana’s after-death framework by emphasizing śrāddha-related rites for ancestors; proper invocation and offering are portrayed as dharmic supports connected with post-death welfare and ancestral satisfaction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestor rites with care for correct procedure—offerings made respectfully and mantras recited with attention—while maintaining gratitude and ethical living as the foundation of Pitṛ-related observances.