Shloka 8
Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa-Śrāddha Vidhi
One-Year Concluding Rite
ॐ वाच्यतां इत्युक्ते ॐ पितामहादिभ्यः स्वधोच्यताम् / अस्तु स्वधेत्युक्ते पितृब्राह्मण पितृभ्यः स्वधोच्यतामिति / अस्तु स्वधेत्युक्ते ॐ ऊर्जं वहन्तीरिति दक्षिणाभिमुखवारिधारात्यागः / ॐ विश्वेदेवा अस्मिन् यज्ञे प्रीयन्तामिति देवब्राह्मणहस्ते ॐ यवोदकदानम् / ॐ देवताभ्य इति त्रिर्जपः
oṃ vācyatāṃ ityukte oṃ pitāmahādibhyaḥ svadhocyatām / astu svadhetyukte pitṛbrāhmaṇa pitṛbhyaḥ svadhocyatāmiti / astu svadhetyukte oṃ ūrjaṃ vahantīriti dakṣiṇābhimukhavāridhārātyāgaḥ / oṃ viśvedevā asmin yajñe prīyantāmiti devabrāhmaṇahaste oṃ yavodakadānam / oṃ devatābhya iti trirjapaḥ
When it is said, “Let ‘Oṃ’ be uttered,” one should say, “Let Svadhā be spoken for the pitāmahas and the other Pitṛs.” When it is said, “So be it—Svadhā,” one should reply, “Let Svadhā be spoken for the Pitṛs and for the Brāhmaṇas connected with the Pitṛ-rite.” When it is again said, “So be it—Svadhā,” reciting “oṃ ūrjaṃ vahantīḥ,” one should pour a stream of water facing south. Saying, “May the Viśvedevas be pleased in this yajña,” one should place barley-water (yava-udaka) into the hand of the deva-Brāhmaṇa. Then, with “oṃ devatābhyaḥ,” one should repeat the formula three times.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)
Ritual Type: Parvana
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Mid-rite: svadhā responses, south-facing water-libation, Viśvedevas satisfaction formula, yava-udaka offering, concluding triple japa.
Concept: Mantra, directionality (dakṣiṇābhimukha), and correct offerings (water, barley-water) operationalize karmic efficacy in śrāddha.
Vedantic Theme: Ritual action as a disciplined means to purify saṃskāras and uphold ṛta/dharma; deva and pitṛ harmonization as integrated yajña-vision.
Application: Maintain exact responses to prompts (‘oṃ vācayatām…’, ‘astu svadhā…’), pour water facing south with the specified mantra, offer yava-udaka to the deva-Brāhmaṇa, and perform the thrice-japa ‘oṃ devatābhyaḥ’.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: ritual-ground/household-śrāddha-space
Related Themes: Adjacent śrāddha-vidhi steps: anujñā, svadhā, tarpaṇa, visarjana (1.220.7–1.220.9)
FAQs
“Svadhā” is the formal Pitṛ-invocation used to address and satisfy the ancestors; this verse prescribes when and for whom it should be uttered during the śrāddha sequence.
The south is ritually associated with the Pitṛs; the verse instructs a south-facing water-stream offering (vāri-dhārā) alongside the mantra “ūrjaṃ vahantīḥ,” symbolizing nourishment being carried to the ancestors.
If performing śrāddha or tarpaṇa, follow a disciplined sequence: correct invocations (Svadhā), respectful offerings (water and yava-udaka), and focused repetition (thrice japa), emphasizing intention, purity, and gratitude toward lineage.