Shloka 74

Pitṛ-Stuti, Tarpaṇa, and the Ritual Power of Recitation in Śrāddha

Devanagari script

यद्यप्यश्रोत्रियं श्राद्धं यद्यप्युपहतं भवेत् / अन्यायोपात्तवित्तेन यदि वा कृतमन्यथा

Transliteration

yadyapyaśrotriyaṃ śrāddhaṃ yadyapyupahataṃ bhavet / anyāyopāttavittena yadi vā kṛtamanyathā

Translation

Even if a Śrāddha is performed for one who is not a qualified Vedic recipient, even if it is marred by defects, or even if it is done with wealth gained through injustice—or carried out in some improper manner—it becomes blameworthy, and its intended fruit is obstructed.

Word by Word

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तसूचक (conditional particle)

• api: even/although
• api: Sambandha (Concession/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-प्रयोगः (concessive/emphatic particle)

• aśrotriyam: (performed by) a non-śrotriya (non-Vedic scholar)
• aśrotriyam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-śrotriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Neuter, Nom/Acc sg)

• śrāddham: śrāddha rite
• śrāddham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc sg)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तसूचक (conditional particle)

• api: even/although
• api: Sambandha (Concession/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-प्रयोगः (concessive/emphatic particle)

• upahatam: spoiled/defective
• upahatam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upahata (कृदन्त; √han (धातु) + उपसर्ग upa)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (PPP, Neuter Nom/Acc sg)

• bhavet: may be/become
• bhavet: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (may be)

• anyāya-upātta-vittena: with wealth acquired unjustly
• anyāya-upātta-vittena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anyāya (प्रातिपदिक) + upātta (कृदन्त; √dā (धातु) + उपसर्ग upa + आ) + vitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-निर्देशः (Instrumental sg; by means of wealth obtained unjustly)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तसूचक (conditional particle)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Alternative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• kṛtam: done/performed
• kṛtam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ (धातु))
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (done/made)

• anyathā: otherwise/improperly
• anyathā: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma (unjust wealth, improper procedure, unqualified recipient) obstructs śrāddha-phala.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala depends on saṅkalpa, śuddhi (means), and vidhi; ethical causality governs ritual outcomes.

Application: Perform śrāddha with rightful earnings, proper recipients, and correct procedure; avoid shortcuts that compromise integrity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (griha/vedi implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections on śrāddha-doṣa and brāhmaṇa-viśeṣaṇa (contextual)

FAQs

What is the importance of qualified recipients (śrotriya) in Garuda Purana Shraddha?

This verse emphasizes that offering Śrāddha to an unqualified recipient (aśrotriya) is a defect that can obstruct the intended benefit of the rite.

How does this verse relate to karma and the results of death rituals?

It links ritual outcome to ethical causality: if the rite is tainted—by defects, wrong procedure, or unjustly earned wealth—the karmic efficacy is diminished or becomes blameworthy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with integrity: follow proper procedure, choose competent officiants/recipients, and fund the ritual through honest means.