Shloka 3
Śrāddha-bheda-nirūpaṇa: Nitya, Vṛddhi, Nāndīmukha, and Ekoḍḍiṣṭa Procedures
दक्षिणजानु गृहीत्वा अद्यास्मदीयामुकवृद्धौ अमुकगात्राणामस्मत्प्रपितामहीपितामहीमातॄणाममुकदेवीनाममुकगोत्राणां श्राद्धे कर्तव्ये वसुसत्यसंज्ञकानां विश्वेषां देवानां श्राद्धं सिद्धान्नेनयुष्मासु मया कर्तव्यमिति देवब्राह्मणामन्त्रणम् / ॐ करिष्यसीति तेनोक्त इत्थमेवापरदेवब्राह्मणामन्त्रणम्
dakṣiṇajānu gṛhītvā adyāsmadīyāmukavṛddhau amukagātrāṇāmasmatprapitāmahīpitāmahīmātṝṇāmamukadevīnāmamukagotrāṇāṃ śrāddhe kartavye vasusatyasaṃjñakānāṃ viśveṣāṃ devānāṃ śrāddhaṃ siddhānnenayuṣmāsu mayā kartavyamiti devabrāhmaṇāmantraṇam / oṃ kariṣyasīti tenokta itthamevāparadevabrāhmaṇāmantraṇam
Holding the right knee in the prescribed posture, one should invite the Devas and the Brāhmaṇas, saying: “Today, on this named vṛddhi occasion in our family, for the śrāddha to be performed for our forebears—such as the great-grandmother, the grandmother, and other maternal ancestors—of such-and-such lineage and gotra, I shall perform, with prepared food (siddhānna), the śrāddha for all the Viśve Devas (known as the Vasus and Satya), with you as witnesses.” When they reply, “Om, you shall do so,” in the same manner one should invite the other Devas and Brāhmaṇas as well.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda on śrāddha procedure)
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: On specified vṛddhi/nāndī occasion day (as announced in invitation)
Concept: In vṛddhi/nāndī contexts, invite Devas and Brāhmaṇas with a formal declaration of intent to perform śrāddha for specified ancestors; obtain assent (‘karīṣyasi’) and repeat for others.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma as performative truth: sankalpa + communal witnessing stabilizes intention; ritual speech-act (vāk) as efficacious when aligned with rule.
Application: Use correct posture and explicit invitation formula; treat brāhmaṇas as ritual proxies/witnesses; ensure consent and proceed sequentially for all intended recipients.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: ritual enclosure with brāhmaṇa seating (śrāddha-maṇḍapa implied)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana procedural mantras for āvāhana/āmantṛaṇa of brāhmaṇas in śrāddha; Lists of Viśvedevas (Vasus, Satya) in śrāddha contexts
FAQs
This verse frames the invitation (āmantraṇa) as a formal declaration of intent: the performer states the occasion, identifies the ancestors and gotra, and requests the presence/witness of Devas and Brāhmaṇas so the śrāddha becomes ritually validated.
It gives a practical liturgical formula used in śrāddha—an essential post-death rite—showing that correct speech (saṅkalpa-like declaration), proper recipients (Viśve Devas), and proper method (siddhānna offering) are part of the prescribed observance.
When performing ancestral rites, be precise and sincere: clearly state whom the rite is for, follow the tradition’s procedure, and treat qualified officiants and invited participants with respect—because intention and correctness are central to śrāddha.