Shloka 65

Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

नवश्राद्धं सपिण्डत्वं श्राद्धान्यपि च षोडश / एकेनैव तु कार्याणि संविभक्तधनेष्वपि

Transliteration

navaśrāddhaṃ sapiṇḍatvaṃ śrāddhānyapi ca ṣoḍaśa / ekenaiva tu kāryāṇi saṃvibhaktadhaneṣvapi

Translation

The nine śrāddhas, the rite of sapiṇḍīkaraṇa (bringing the departed into the line of ancestors), and the other sixteen śrāddha rites—even when the family wealth has been divided—should be performed by a single person alone.

Word by Word

• नव-श्राद्धम्: the nine śrāddhas
• नव-श्राद्धम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative Singular; समासः द्विगु (नवानि श्राद्धानि)

• सपिण्डत्वम्: sapinda-status
• सपिण्डत्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (सह) + पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative Singular; भाववाचक (state of being sapinda)

• श्राद्धानि: śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन — Nom./Acc. Plural

• अपि: also
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; श्राद्धानि इति पदस्य विशेषणम् — ‘sixteen’

• एकेन: by one (person)
• एकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — Instrumental Singular

• एव: only
• एव: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (only/indeed)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधानार्थक (indeed)

• कार्याणि: should be performed
• कार्याणि: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √कृ (धातु) (कृदन्त, यत्/णीयत् ‘कार्य’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Nom./Acc. Plural; विधेय-विशेषण — ‘to be done/should be performed’

• संविभक्त-धनेषु: among those whose wealth is divided
• संविभक्त-धनेषु: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + वि + √भज् (धातु) (कृदन्त, क्त ‘विभक्त’) + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन — Locative Plural; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (संविभक्तं धनं येषु) — ‘among those with divided property’

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (even/also)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Across the prescribed sequence: navā-śrāddha, sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the ṣoḍaśa śrāddhas as applicable in the cycle.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual agency (kartṛtva) should be singular for the śrāddha series—nine śrāddhas, sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the sixteen—regardless of divided inheritance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as supra-economic obligation; unity of saṅkalpa and performance preserves the rite’s efficacy and lineage coherence.

Application: Appoint one performer (typically the principal heir/eldest eligible son or designated kartā) to execute the entire prescribed śrāddha set even after property partition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: extended family household / ancestral ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.5: enumeration of navā-śrāddha and ṣoḍaśa-śrāddha sets; rules of kartāship; Garuda Purana: emphasis on single saṅkalpa and proper adhikāra for śrāddha

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of sapiṇḍīkaraṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats sapiṇḍīkaraṇa as a required post-death rite that formally connects the deceased with the Pitṛs (ancestors), and places it among the essential śrāddha duties to be completed properly.

How does this verse guide who should perform the śrāddhas?

It states that the set of post-death śrāddhas (including the nine and the sixteen) should be carried out by one responsible performer, even if the heirs have already divided the family wealth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Appoint one eligible family member (or a designated karta) to coordinate and complete the śrāddha sequence without dispute, ensuring continuity of ancestral rites regardless of inheritance arrangements.