Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचारी भवेत्तां तु रजनीं भार्यया मह / एवं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा वृद्धौ नान्दीमुखानपि

Transliteration

brahmacārī bhavettāṃ tu rajanīṃ bhāryayā maha / evaṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā vṛddhau nāndīmukhānapi

Translation

O Großer, in jener Nacht soll er zusammen mit seiner Gattin Brahmacarya (heilige Enthaltsamkeit) wahren. Und nachdem er so die Pradakṣiṇā vollzogen hat, soll er auch die Ältesten sowie die Nāndīmukha-Riten/die Nāndīmukha-Ahnengottheiten ehren.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मचारी: a brahmacārin (celibate student)
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणि चारि); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ताम्: that (night)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• रजनीम्: night
• रजनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भार्यया: with (his) wife
• भार्यया: Sahakarana (सहकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• महा: O great one
• महा: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: महा (अव्यय/सम्बोधन)
• Form: सम्बोधनात्मक अव्यय (vocative interjection; 'O great one')

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• प्रदक्षिणम्: circumambulation to the right
• प्रदक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मरूपेण (act of circumambulation)

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

• वृद्धौ: the two elders (ancestors/elders)
• वृद्धौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd) (सन्दर्भे: द्वितीया कर्म)

• नान्दीमुखान्: the Nāndīmukha (a class of ancestors)
• नान्दीमुखान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नान्दीमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (नान्दी + मुख); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: night following śrāddha; post-rite observance

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Temporary continence as ritual purity; honoring elders and Nāndīmukha-pitṛs sustains family dharma and auspiciousness.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) supports sattva and clarity; reverence to lineage as a dharmic support for inner steadiness.

Application: After solemn rites or intense commitments, observe restraint and simplicity; prioritize elder-care and family remembrance practices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: dharma-vira

Geographic Context

Type: household after-rite observance

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99 (post-śrāddha niyamas; nāndīmukha mention)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Nāndīmukhas
• Elders

FAQs

What is the importance of brahmacarya (continence) in Garuda Purana rites?

This verse links ritual efficacy and purity with self-restraint, advising continence during the prescribed period so ancestral rites (Pitṛ-kārya) are performed in a disciplined, sattvic manner.

Who are the Nāndīmukhas mentioned in this verse?

Nāndīmukhas are Pitṛ-associated beings/rites invoked in auspicious ancestral contexts; the verse indicates they too should be duly honoured as part of the prescribed observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During śrāddha or memorial observances, keep conduct restrained, follow the rite carefully (including respectful pradakṣiṇā where appropriate), and honour elders—maintaining reverence and ritual discipline.