Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

इष्टापूर्तादिके श्राद्धं कुर्यादाभ्युदयं तथा / उत्पातादिनिमित्तेषु नित्य श्राद्धवदेव तु

Transliteration

iṣṭāpūrtādike śrāddhaṃ kuryādābhyudayaṃ tathā / utpātādinimitteṣu nitya śrāddhavadeva tu

Translation

Man soll das Śrāddha im Zusammenhang mit verdienstvollen Handlungen wie Opfern (iṣṭa) und öffentlichen Wohltaten (pūrta) vollziehen und ebenso das glückverheißende ābhyudayika-Śrāddha. Und bei Anlässen, die durch Vorzeichen und Unheilserscheinungen (utpāta) und ähnliche Zeichen angezeigt sind, ist es genau nach der Weise des täglichen (nitya) Śrāddha auszuführen.

Word by Word

• इष्टापूर्तादिके: in (occasions) like iṣṭa and pūrta etc.
• इष्टापूर्तादिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्ट-आपূर्त-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; इष्ट + आपूर्त + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; समाहार/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोग ‘in (rites) such as iṣṭa and pūrta’

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आभ्युदयम्: (for) auspicious prosperity (ābhyudaya)
• आभ्युदयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभ्युदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘prosperity/auspicious occasion’

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

• उत्पातादिनिमित्तेषु: in causes/occasions such as portents etc.
• उत्पातादिनिमित्तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्पात-आदि-निमित्त (प्रातिपदिक; उत्पात + आदि + निमित्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (उत्पातादीनि निमित्तानि येषु)

• नित्य: regularly/always
• नित्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (adverb: always/regularly)

• श्राद्धवत्: as in a (regular) śrāddha
• श्राद्धवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्राद्धवत् (प्रातिपदिक; श्राद्ध + वत्)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverbial: like a śrāddha / in the manner of śrāddha)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: just/indeed)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During iṣṭa-pūrta undertakings; during ābhyudaya occasions; and upon utpāta/nimitta events, performed like nitya śrāddha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha is to be performed alongside meritorious undertakings and on auspicious occasions; in times signaled by portents, perform it like the daily śrāddha to stabilize karma and avert disorder.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as harmonizing force: timely rites align human action with cosmic order (ṛta), mitigating inauspiciousness.

Application: Attach śrāddha to major dharmic projects (charity, public benefaction) and perform ābhyudayika śrāddha for auspicious milestones; when ominous signs arise, do a nitya-style śrāddha with steadiness and correctness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: household/temple-adjacent ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.45 (categories and occasions of śrāddha)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of performing Śrāddha during iṣṭa and āpūrta acts in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links ancestor-offerings with meritorious deeds (iṣṭa and āpūrta), indicating that Pitṛ-obligations should accompany major dharmic acts to strengthen merit and continuity of family duty.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By prescribing timely Śrāddha, it implies that proper offerings support the Pitṛs and maintain the ritual order that benefits the departed and the family, a recurring Preta-kāṇḍa theme about post-death welfare through rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When doing significant charity or religious observances, include a simple Pitṛ-tarpaṇa/Śrāddha as appropriate, and in times of alarming omens or disturbances, perform it following the regular nitya-śrāddha discipline (with sincerity and proper conduct).