Shloka 38
प्रत्यब्दं पितृमातृभ्यां श्राद्धं दत्त्वा न लिप्यते / एकोद्दिष्टं परित्यज्य पार्वणं कुरुते यदि
pratyabdaṃ pitṛmātṛbhyāṃ śrāddhaṃ dattvā na lipyate / ekoddiṣṭaṃ parityajya pārvaṇaṃ kurute yadi
By offering the annual śrāddha to one’s father and mother, a person is not tainted by fault. And if, setting aside the ekoddiṣṭa, one performs the pārvaṇa, there is no blame in that either.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)
Ritual Type: Parvana
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Pratyabda (annual)
Concept: Performing annual śrāddha for father and mother prevents ritual/moral taint; performing pārvaṇa appropriately (even setting aside ekoddiṣṭa in that context) is blameless.
Vedantic Theme: Śuddhi through niyata-naimittika karma; dharma as a stabilizing force that reduces doṣa and supports inner calm.
Application: Keep a reliable annual remembrance/rite for parents; follow correct rite-type for the intended beneficiary set (individual vs collective ancestors).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: household/ritual space
Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-vidhi passages on annual śrāddha and pārvaṇa (general)
FAQs
This verse states that offering śrāddha annually for one’s father and mother is a dharmic act that does not incur ritual fault, emphasizing it as a safe and proper obligation toward one’s Pitṛ-line.
It distinguishes ekoddiṣṭa as a single-target offering for a specific departed person, while pārvaṇa is a collective Pitṛ rite; the verse affirms that performing pārvaṇa (even after setting aside ekoddiṣṭa) is not blameworthy.
Maintain an annual remembrance-and-offering practice for parents/ancestors (as per one’s tradition and priestly guidance); if unsure between ekoddiṣṭa and pārvaṇa formats, this verse supports that a properly performed pārvaṇa śrāddha remains acceptable.