Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

पितृपात्रं तदुत्तानं कृत्वा विप्रान्विसर्जयेत् / प्रदक्षिणमनुव्रज्य भुञ्जीत पितृसेवितम्

Transliteration

pitṛpātraṃ taduttānaṃ kṛtvā viprānvisarjayet / pradakṣiṇamanuvrajya bhuñjīta pitṛsevitam

Translation

Nachdem man das für die Pitṛs bestimmte Gefäß umgestülpt hat, soll man die Brāhmaṇas ehrerbietig entlassen. Dann, nachdem man sie mit einer Pradakṣiṇā (Umrundung nach rechts) begleitet hat, soll man die Speise zu sich nehmen, die im Dienst an den Pitṛs dargebracht wurde.

Word by Word

• पितृपात्रम्: the vessel for the ancestors
• पितृपात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पितॄणां पात्रम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; निर्देशक (demonstrative)

• उत्तानम्: turned upward, upturned
• उत्तानम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (पात्रम् इत्यस्य)

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा → कृत्वा (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• विप्रान्: Brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• विसर्जयेत्: should dismiss/send off
• विसर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रदक्षिणम्: clockwise, to the right
• प्रदक्षिणम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverb: 'clockwise/rightward')

• अनुव्रज्य: having followed
• अनुव्रज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु + व्रज् (धातु) + ल्यप् → अनुव्रज्य (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• भुञ्जीत: should eat
• भुञ्जीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पितृसेवितम्: (food) served/partaken by the ancestors
• पितृसेवितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ + सेवित (सेव् धातु + क्त)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पितृभिः सेवितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: post-offering conclusion and guest dismissal

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual completion requires proper signs (pātra inversion), honoring brāhmaṇas, and partaking of pitṛ-sevita food as prasad-like remainder.

Vedantic Theme: Yajña-śeṣa (sanctified remainder) purifies; honoring the worthy (brāhmaṇa/atithi) refines ego and supports dharmic order.

Application: Conclude duties with clear closure steps; honor teachers/elders; share and partake of ‘blessed’ food mindfully, avoiding waste.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: gṛha/śrāddha dining-ritual area

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99 (pātra handling, brāhmaṇa-visarjana, pradakṣiṇā, bhojana)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Vipras (Brahmanas)

FAQs

What is the importance of dismissing brāhmaṇas properly in Garuda Purana śrāddha?

This verse emphasizes that the rite is completed with respectful send-off of the officiating brāhmaṇas, indicating closure of the pitṛ-offering and proper observance of dharma.

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

By prescribing correct pitṛ-kriyā (ancestral rites), it supports the departed’s post-death welfare as taught in the Garuda Purana—ritual correctness is presented as spiritually consequential for the preta/pitṛ state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with care: show gratitude to those who assist in sacred duties, complete the ritual respectfully, and treat śrāddha as a disciplined act of remembrance rather than a casual meal.