Shloka 125

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

अज्ञानाद्विघ्नतो वापि न कृतञ्चेत् सपिण्डनम् / नवकं षोडशश्राद्धमाब्दिकं कारयेत् ततः

Transliteration

ajñānādvighnato vāpi na kṛtañcet sapiṇḍanam / navakaṃ ṣoḍaśaśrāddhamābdikaṃ kārayet tataḥ

Translation

If, through ignorance or due to obstacles, the sapīṇḍana rite has not been performed, then afterwards one should have the navaka rites, the sixteen śrāddhas, and the annual (ābdika) śrāddha carried out.

Word by Word

• अज्ञानात्: from ignorance
• अज्ञानात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• विघ्नतः: due to an obstacle
• विघ्नतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; ‘विघ्नात्’ अर्थे वैकल्पिक-रूप

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• कृतम्: done/performed
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional particle: if)

• सपिण्डनम्: the sapiṇḍana rite
• सपिण्डनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपिण्डन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नवकम्: the navaka rite (nine-day set)
• नवकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• षोडश-श्राद्धम्: the sixteen śrāddhas
• षोडश-श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (षोडशानां श्राद्धानां समाहारः)

• आब्दिकम्: annual (rite)
• आब्दिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आब्दिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; श्राद्धस्य विशेषणम्

• कारयेत्: should cause to be performed
• कारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) [णिच् causative: कारय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): तस्मात्/अनन्तरम् (thereafter/then)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After realizing sapīṇḍīkaraṇa was missed: perform navaka, then ṣoḍaśa-śrāddhas, then ābdika at the yearly tithi

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglected rites create ritual-ethical deficit; prescribed follow-up rites (navaka, ṣoḍaśa-śrāddha, ābdika) repair the karmic/ritual continuity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-niyama and prāyaścitta-like restoration: intentional alignment with dharma mitigates consequences of omission.

Application: If key post-death rites were missed, consult tradition/priests to perform the compensatory sequence rather than abandoning the process.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana lists of navaka and ṣoḍaśa-śrāddha sequences; Sections on ābdika śrāddha and ongoing pitṛ obligations

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of sapiṇḍana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats sapiṇḍana as a crucial post-death rite that integrates the departed into the ancestral (Pitṛ) line; if it is missed, the text prescribes compensatory śrāddha sequences to restore ritual continuity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By emphasizing required śrāddha and sapiṇḍana, the verse implies that the preta’s post-death transition is supported by properly timed offerings and rites, aligning the departed with the Pitṛ framework rather than leaving the process incomplete due to omissions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If mandated funeral and śrāddha rites were delayed or missed for genuine reasons, this verse supports arranging the prescribed make-up rites (navaka, ṣoḍaśa śrāddhas, and the annual śrāddha) through qualified priests, with sincere intent and family participation.