Shloka 54

Śrāddha as Trans-realm Nourishment; Pitṛ-Conveyance; Piṇḍa-born Body and the ātivāhika; Bhakti-based Release

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छ्राद्धं प्रयत्नेन अमायां कर्तुमर्हति / यदि श्राद्धं प्रकुर्वन्ति पुत्राद्यास्तस्य बान्धवाः

Transliteration

tasmācchrāddhaṃ prayatnena amāyāṃ kartumarhati / yadi śrāddhaṃ prakurvanti putrādyāstasya bāndhavāḥ

Translation

Darum soll man am Tag der Amāvasyā (Neumond) das śrāddha mit Sorgfalt vollziehen. Wenn Sohn und andere Angehörige des Verstorbenen das śrāddha ausführen, wird es für ihn rechtmäßig und vollständig vollbracht.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha (Cause/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: हेतुवाचक अव्ययप्रयोग (ablatival: 'therefore/from that')

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort
• प्रयत्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3), एकवचन

• अमायाम्: on the new-moon night/day (amā)
• अमायाम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Case 7), एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do, to perform
• कर्तुम्: Karma (Purpose/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), कर्मप्रवृत्त्यर्थ

• अर्हति: is fit/ought
• अर्हति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तवाचक अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• प्रकुर्वन्ति: perform
• प्रकुर्वन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुत्राद्याः: sons and others
• पुत्राद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समाहारार्थक/समुच्चयार्थक तत्पुरुषः (पुत्रः आदिः येषां ते)

• तस्य: of him/of that person
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Case 6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बान्धवाः: relatives
• बान्धवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Amāvasyā (new-moon day), to be done diligently (prayatnena)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prescriptive dharma: perform amāvasyā-śrāddha with effort; kin (especially sons) can effect ritual completion and benefit for the deceased.

Vedantic Theme: Karma transmitted through agency and intention: the living can generate merit that accrues to the departed via sanctioned ritual; dharma sustains social-cosmic order.

Application: Ensure a responsible family member performs śrāddha; if the primary son is unavailable, arrange qualified relatives/priest and complete essentials with sincerity and correctness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: domestic ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.10.51-53 (context: Pitṛs arrive, wait, suffer, and depart if neglected)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of performing śrāddha on Amāvāsyā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that Amāvāsyā is a proper and recommended time for śrāddha, so the rite should be done with care and diligence for the benefit of the departed.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By emphasizing śrāddha performed by sons and relatives, the verse reflects the Preta Kanda idea that post-death rites support the departed (preta) through transitional afterlife conditions and help ensure proper onward progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If a death occurs in the family, prioritize performing śrāddha properly—especially on Amāvāsyā when applicable—and ensure responsible family participation, treating the rite as a duty of care toward ancestors.