Shloka 13

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

सार्ध मासं तु वैश्यस्य सद्यः शूद्रे विधीयते / गङ्गायां यमुनायाञ्च नैमिषे पुष्करे ऽथ च

Transliteration

sārdha māsaṃ tu vaiśyasya sadyaḥ śūdre vidhīyate / gaṅgāyāṃ yamunāyāñca naimiṣe puṣkare 'tha ca

Translation

Für einen Vaiśya ist die vorgeschriebene Observanz eineinhalb Monate; für einen Śūdra soll sie unverzüglich vollzogen werden. Dieses Ritual ist besonders wirksam an der Gaṅgā, an der Yamunā, in Naimiṣa und auch in Puṣkara.

Word by Word

• सार्धम्: and a half / plus
• सार्धम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्ध (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb/particle meaning ‘with, plus’ (सह/अधिक) used with measure

• मासम्: month
• मासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विरोध/अन्वय)

• वैश्यस्य: of a Vaishya / for a Vaishya
• वैश्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन) (sense: ‘for a Vaishya’)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक)

• शूद्रे: for a Shudra (in the case of)
• शूद्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन) (context: ‘in the case of a Shudra’)

• विधीयते: is prescribed
• विधीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: Present tense/लट्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada; Passive sense (कर्मणि प्रयोग) ‘is prescribed/ordained’

• गङ्गायाम्: in the Ganga
• गङ्गायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• यमुनायाम्: in the Yamuna
• यमुनायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• नैमिषे: at Naimisha
• नैमिषे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (place-name), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• पुष्करे: at Pushkara
• पुष्करे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (place-name), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अनन्तर/प्रस्ताव)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating śrāddha/preta-kriyā rules to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Vaiśya: one and a half months; Śūdra: immediately (as stated).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varna-specific timing (Vaiśya 1.5 months; Śūdra immediate) and the amplifying power of tīrtha for rites.

Vedantic Theme: Sacred space as a support for sattva and purification; karma is refined by proper place (deśa) and time (kāla) in ritual action.

Application: When feasible, perform death-related rites at renowned tīrthas; otherwise follow timing rules and seek purity through sanctioned substitutes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: river/river/forest-tirtha/lake-tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tīrtha praise and shraddha chapters listing Gaṅgā/Yamunā/Naimiṣa/Puṣkara as potent for śrāddha and tarpaṇa

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Yamuna
• Naimisha
• Pushkara
• Vaishya
• Shudra

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrthas like Gaṅgā and Yamunā in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse highlights that performing śrāddha/preta-kriyā at major tīrthas—Gaṅgā, Yamunā, Naimiṣa, and Puṣkara—is considered especially fruitful, increasing the rite’s spiritual efficacy.

How does this verse guide the timing of śrāddha or related rites for Vaiśyas and Śūdras?

It states a specific timing distinction: a month-and-a-half observance for a Vaiśya, while for a Śūdra the rite is prescribed to be done immediately, indicating urgency and rule-based scheduling in preta-kriyā.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If undertaking ancestral rites, follow your tradition’s timing rules with sincerity, and when possible perform or dedicate the rite to renowned tīrthas (or symbolically invoke them) to strengthen faith, discipline, and remembrance of dharma.