Shloka 29
Śrāddha Vidhi (Pārvaṇa-Śrāddha): Invitations, Arghya, Protective Rites, Piṇḍa Offering, Dakṣiṇā, and Visarjana
सौमनस्यमस्तु / अस्त्वित्युक्ते प्रदत्तपिण्डस्थाने अर्घ्यार्थपवित्रमोचनम् / कुशपवित्रं गृहीत्वातेन कुशेन पित्रादिब्राह्मणं स्पृष्ट्वा स्वधां वाचयिष्ये-ॐ वाच्यतां-ॐ पितृपितामहेभ्यो यथानामशर्मभ्यः सपत्नीकेभ्यः स्वधोच्यताम् / अस्तुस्वधा इत्युक्ते ऊर्जं वहन्तीरमृतं घृतमिति पिण्डोपरि वारिधारां दद्यात्
saumanasyamastu / astvityukte pradattapiṇḍasthāne arghyārthapavitramocanam / kuśapavitraṃ gṛhītvātena kuśena pitrādibrāhmaṇaṃ spṛṣṭvā svadhāṃ vācayiṣye-oṃ vācyatāṃ-oṃ pitṛpitāmahebhyo yathānāmaśarmabhyaḥ sapatnīkebhyaḥ svadhocyatām / astusvadhā ityukte ūrjaṃ vahantīramṛtaṃ ghṛtamiti piṇḍopari vāridhārāṃ dadyāt
“May there be auspiciousness.” When they reply, “So be it,” at the place where the piṇḍa has been offered, one should remove the kuśa-ring/purifier used for the arghya. Taking a kuśa-pavitra, and touching with that kuśa the brāhmaṇa who represents the Pitṛs, one should have the svadhā-invocation recited: “Oṃ—let it be recited—Oṃ. For the Pitṛs and the Pitāmahas, for those bearing such-and-such names (ending in ‘śarman’), together with their wives—let svadhā be pronounced.” When they say, “So be it—svadhā,” one should pour a stream of water upon the piṇḍa, reciting: “Bearing nourishment (ūrj), nectar (amṛta), and ghee (ghṛta).”
Lord Vishnu instructing Garuda (Vinata-putra) on śrāddha/pinda-dāna procedure
Ritual Type: Parvana
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Śrāddha sequence after piṇḍa-pradāna at the piṇḍa-sthāna; during svadhā-vācana and tarpana over piṇḍa
Concept: Pitṛ-yajña through svadhā and nourishing libations; ritual purity (pavitra/kuśa) and correct address (yathānāma) sustain ancestral connection.
Vedantic Theme: ṛṇa-traya (deva-ṛṣi-pitṛ debts) and karma-sambandha; dharma as a purifier that supports sattva and remembrance.
Application: In śrāddha, remove/replace pavitra correctly, touch the pitṛ-brāhmaṇa with kuśa as a ritual conduit, invoke svadhā naming ancestors with spouses, and pour a steady water-stream over the piṇḍa with the stated mantra.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: gṛhya-śrāddha-sthāna / yajña-sthāna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-khaṇḍa: svadhā-ucchāraṇa, piṇḍa-tarpaṇa, kuśa-pavitra procedures (adjacent verses in 1.218)
FAQs
This verse shows svadhā as the formal acceptance-formula for offerings to the Pitṛs; it marks the offering as directed to ancestors (not devas) and completes the piṇḍa-dāna sequence with proper ritual speech.
After the svadhā is pronounced and accepted (“astu svadhā”), one pours a continuous stream of water over the piṇḍa while reciting words that frame the offering as nourishment (ūrj), nectar (amṛta), and ghee-like sustenance (ghṛta) for the ancestors.
Even in simplified śrāddha practice, maintain clarity of intention—offer respectfully to ancestors, use correct mantras (or their understood meaning), and complete the rite with a water offering as a symbol of sustenance and remembrance.