Preta Kalpa Adhyaya 45 Shloka 11 - Garuda Purana | German | Vedapath

Vyasa

←Previous Verse

Next Verse→

Shloka 11

Determining Rites for Difficult/Inauspicious Deaths; Annual and Daily Śrāddha Rules

Devanagari script

एककाले गता सूनां बहूनामथ वा द्वयोः / तन्त्रेण श्रपणं कुर्याच्छ्राद्धं कुर्यात् पृथक्पृथक्

Transliteration

ekakāle gatā sūnāṃ bahūnāmatha vā dvayoḥ / tantreṇa śrapaṇaṃ kuryācchrāddhaṃ kuryāt pṛthakpṛthak

Translation

Wenn zur selben Zeit viele Verwandte der Linie — oder auch nur zwei — dahingegangen sind, soll das rituelle Kochen in einem einzigen gemeinsamen Verfahren geschehen; die śrāddha-Darbringungen jedoch sind für jeden einzeln, getrennt zu vollziehen.

Word by Word

एककालेat one time

गताःhaving died/departed

सूनाम्of the mothers/daughters-in-law (sūnāḥ)

बहूनाम्of many

अथor/then

वाor

द्वयोःof two

तन्त्रेणby one procedure/system

श्रपणम्cooking/boiling (of the offering)

कुर्यात्should do

श्राद्धम्śrāddha

कुर्यात्should perform

पृथक्separately

पृथक्each separately

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: When multiple deaths coincide (same time period), coordinate preparation but keep offerings distinct.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When multiple relatives die at the same time, cooking may be done in one common procedure, but śrāddha offerings must be made separately—efficiency in means, distinctness in intention.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅkalpa-bheda (distinct intention) matters in karma; inner differentiation can coexist with outer economy.

Application: If several śrāddhas coincide, prepare food once to reduce burden, but perform separate saṅkalpa, separate pindas/tarpaṇa and naming for each departed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: gṛhya-śrāddha kitchen/altar (pāka + offering area)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-vidhi on saṅkalpa and beneficiary specification; 2.45.7 on ekoddiṣṭa specificity; 2.45.9 on timing rules

Characters & Entities

Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of performing śrāddha separately when multiple deaths occur?

This verse states that even if cooking is done under one common arrangement, the śrāddha must be offered individually so each departed person receives a distinct rite and dedicated offering.

Does this verse allow combining rituals for multiple departed persons?

It allows combining the preparation (cooking) under one procedure, but it does not merge the śrāddha itself; the offerings and intention are to be done pṛthak-pṛthak—separately for each deceased.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When families face closely timed bereavements, keep the ritual logistics efficient (one cooking setup) while maintaining clear, separate sankalpa and offerings for each departed person, following local śrāddha tradition and priestly guidance.