Shloka 57
Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules
पौर्णमास्यां मृतो यो ऽसौ चतुर्थी तस्य चोनका / चतुर्थ्यान्तु मृतो यस्तु नवमी तस्य चोनका
paurṇamāsyāṃ mṛto yo 'sau caturthī tasya conakā / caturthyāntu mṛto yastu navamī tasya conakā
Stirbt jemand am Vollmondtag (Paurṇamāsī), so wird der für die rituelle Beachtung anzusetzende Tithi als Caturthī (vierter Mondtag) genommen. Und stirbt jemand an Caturthī, so wird für den Ritus Navamī (neunter Mondtag) angesetzt.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Ritual Type: Ekoddishta
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Tithi substitution rules: Paurṇamāsī death → observe on Caturthī; Caturthī death → observe on Navamī (as stated).
Concept: When death occurs on certain tithis, śrāddha observance may be shifted to a different tithi (e.g., Paurṇamāsī → Caturthī; Caturthī → Navamī) per rule.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma is upheld through śāstra-guided convention (vidhi) that harmonizes practice with time’s complexities.
Application: If death tithi is Paurṇamāsī, schedule the observance on Caturthī; if death tithi is Caturthī, observe on Navamī—following the text’s mapping and local prayoga confirmation.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.56 (tithi non-adoption in certain cases); surrounding śrāddha timing rules in 2.34.
FAQs
This verse gives a practical rule for assigning the observance-tithi for rites when the actual death occurs on certain lunar days, ensuring śrāddha and related offerings are performed on the scripturally sanctioned tithi.
It states that a death on Paurṇamāsī is ritually observed with Caturthī as the counted tithi, and a death on Caturthī is observed with Navamī as the counted tithi—indicating a technical adjustment used in the ritual calendar.
When planning annual śrāddha or related rites, consult a competent paṇḍit/purohita to apply such tithi rules so the observance aligns with traditional dharma-śāstra style calculations reflected in the Garuda Purana.