Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

मातृश्राद्धन्तु पूर्वेण कर्मादौ पैतृकं तथा / उत्तरे ऽहनि वृद्धौ स्यान्मातामहगणस्य तु

Transliteration

mātṛśrāddhantu pūrveṇa karmādau paitṛkaṃ tathā / uttare 'hani vṛddhau syānmātāmahagaṇasya tu

Translation

Bei der Ausführung der Riten soll zuerst das Śrāddha für die Mutter vollzogen werden; ebenso ist das väterliche Ahnen-Śrāddha entsprechend zu verrichten. Am folgenden Tag, wenn die Observanz erweitert wird, gilt sie der Gruppe der Mātāmahas, den Vorfahren der mütterlichen Linie.

Word by Word

• मातृश्राद्धम्: mother’s śrāddha
• मातृश्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ-श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; मातृ + श्राद्ध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मातुः श्राद्धम्)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• पूर्वेण: by the earlier (one/rite)
• पूर्वेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण/साधन-भाव (instrumental: by/with the earlier)

• कर्मादौ: at the beginning of the rite
• कर्मादौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; कर्म + आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कर्मणः आदौ)

• पैतृकम्: paternal (for the fathers)
• पैतृकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पैतृक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying śrāddha)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: likewise/also)

• उत्तरे: on the following (day)
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying day: on the following)

• अहनि: on the day
• अहनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• वृद्धौ: in the (case of) increase/extension (vṛddhi)
• वृद्धौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; ‘वृद्धौ’ = वृद्धौ (locative)

• स्यात्: should be/should occur
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मातामहगणस्य: of the maternal-grandfather group
• मातामहगणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातामह-गण (प्रातिपदिक; मातामह + गण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मातामहानां गणः)

• तु: indeed/however
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: however/indeed)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Mata

Timing: Day 1: mātṛ then paitṛka; Day 2 (vṛddhi/extension): mātāmaha-gaṇa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Order of performance: mother’s śrāddha first, then paternal; on the subsequent day (in an extended observance) offerings go to the maternal-grandfather group.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as ordered duty (niyata-krama) sustaining ṛṇa (debts) to ancestors; harmony through structured remembrance.

Application: When managing family obligations, follow a clear, fair sequence that acknowledges all relational lines.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: gṛha / śrāddha-vedī

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: maternal vs paternal śrāddha ordering; ‘vṛddhi’ (extended rite) mention; mātāmaha-gaṇa offerings

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Mātāmahagaṇa (maternal ancestors)

FAQs

What is the importance of the correct order of Śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes procedural dharma: performing the mother’s śrāddha first at the start of the rites, and then following the prescribed sequence for paternal and maternal-line ancestors, so offerings reach the intended Pitris without ritual confusion.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In Preta Kanda teachings, śrāddha supports the departed through post-death transitions by properly directing offerings to ancestral recipients; correct sequencing is presented as part of the dharmic framework that aids the preta’s welfare and Pitri satisfaction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When arranging śrāddha, follow a clear lineage-based order—mother’s rite first, then paternal ancestors, and if an additional/next-day observance is done, include the maternal-grandfather line—ideally under a competent priest who knows the family’s tradition (śākhā/ācāra).