Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

एकादशाहे यच्छ्राद्धं नवकं तत् प्रकीर्तितम् / चतुष्पथे त्यजेदन्नं पुनः स्नानं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

ekādaśāhe yacchrāddhaṃ navakaṃ tat prakīrtitam / catuṣpathe tyajedannaṃ punaḥ snānaṃ samācaret

Translation

Das am elften Tag vollzogene Śrāddha wird „Navaka“ genannt. An einer Wegkreuzung soll man die Speise weggeben und danach erneut das reinigende Bad vollziehen.

Word by Word

• ekādaśāhe: on the eleventh day
• ekādaśāhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative of time; dvigu: ekādaśa (11) + aha (day)

• yat: which
• yat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/ Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun qualifying śrāddham

• śrāddham: Śrāddha rite
• śrāddham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of prakīrtitam

• navakam: (called) ‘navaka’
• navakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: navaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective to śrāddham

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative referring to the rite

• prakīrtitam: is proclaimed/said
• prakīrtitam: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√kīrt (धातु) + kta (कृत्) → prakīrtita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; past passive participle used predicatively

• catuṣpathe: at a crossroads
• catuṣpathe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catuṣpatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative; dvigu: catuḥ (four) + patha (road)

• tyajet: should abandon/leave
• tyajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• annam: food
• annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; object of tyajet

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of samācaret (understood: snānaṃ samācaret)

• samācaret: should perform/practice
• samācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Eleventh day (ekādaśāha) designated as ‘navaka’.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha-niyama: the eleventh-day śrāddha is ‘navaka’; remnants are disposed at a liminal place and the performer re-purifies by bathing.

Vedantic Theme: Purity/impurity as functional disciplines (vyavahāra) supporting dharma; detachment from remnants and completion of rite without clinging.

Application: On ekādaśāha/navaka day, complete śrāddha; discard designated food at a crossroads per rule; perform snāna again before re-entering normal domestic activities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: liminal public junction

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.60 on ongoing daily offerings from the eleventh day; Garuda Purana śrāddha sections describing ekoddiṣṭa and sapīṇḍīkaraṇa sequences

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of the Navaka Śrāddha on the eleventh day in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies the eleventh-day Śrāddha as “Navaka,” marking a specific post-death rite in the Preta-kāṇḍa sequence that is treated as a distinct, named observance.

Why does the verse mention discarding food at a crossroads?

The verse prescribes leaving/abandoning the offered food at a catuṣpatha (crossroads), a liminal place used in ritual contexts, followed by renewed purification through bathing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing Śrāddha, follow the prescribed ritual cleanliness: handle offerings with care, follow tradition for disposal (as guided by local śāstric practice), and observe purification steps such as bathing afterward.