Shloka 38

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

एकादशाहे यच्छ्राद्धं तत् सामान्यमुदाहृतम् / चतुर्णामेकवर्णानां शुद्ध्यर्थं स्नानमुच्यते

Transliteration

ekādaśāhe yacchrāddhaṃ tat sāmānyamudāhṛtam / caturṇāmekavarṇānāṃ śuddhyarthaṃ snānamucyate

Translation

Das am elften Tag vollzogene Śrāddha wird als das „allgemeine“ Ritual bezeichnet; und zur Reinigung der vier Varṇa wird das rituelle Bad vorgeschrieben.

Word by Word

• ekādaśa-ahē: on the eleventh day
• ekādaśa-ahē: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśa-aha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (एकादशानां अहः)

• yat: which
• yat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• śrāddham: Śrāddha rite
• śrāddham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; अन्वयः—तत् (यत्-सम्बन्ध)

• sāmānyam: common/general
• sāmānyam: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāmānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• udāhṛtam: is declared/said
• udāhṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः

• caturṇām: of four
• caturṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘चारों के’

• eka-varṇānām: of those of one varṇa (same class)
• eka-varṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (एकः वर्णः येषाम्/एकवर्णाः)

• śuddhi-artham: for purification
• śuddhi-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddhi + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शुद्धेः अर्थः)

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ucyate: is said/is prescribed
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Ekādaśāha (11th day after death)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ekādaśāha-śrāddha as a ‘sāmānya’ rite; śauca (purificatory bathing) as a universal purifier across social groups.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-śuddhi as a support for antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi; outer purity as an aid to inner sattva.

Application: Observe the eleventh-day śrāddha as a standard rite; perform prescribed bathing for ritual reset and social/ritual reintegration.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: gṛha (household ritual space)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: daśāha/ekādaśāha śrāddha sequence; śauca rules around preta rites

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of the eleventh-day (ekādaśāha) Śrāddha in Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies the eleventh-day Śrāddha as a ‘sāmānya’ (common, generally applicable) rite—indicating it is a standard post-death observance rather than a special optional ceremony.

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes the ritual framework (Śrāddha and purification) that supports orderly post-death observances for the departed (preta-to-pitṛ transition themes in Preta Kanda), rather than describing the journey itself.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing post-funeral rites, treat the eleventh-day Śrāddha as a standard obligation and observe prescribed purification practices such as ritual bathing as part of disciplined dharma.