Shloka 70

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

श्राद्धानि नव चैतानि तृतीया षोडशी स्मृता / एकोद्दिष्टविधानेन कार्याणि मनुजैस्तथा

Transliteration

śrāddhāni nava caitāni tṛtīyā ṣoḍaśī smṛtā / ekoddiṣṭavidhānena kāryāṇi manujaistathā

Translation

These are the nine śrāddha rites; the third day and the sixteenth are also enjoined. Human beings should perform them according to the Ekoddiṣṭa procedure, intended for a single departed person.

Word by Word

• श्राद्धानि: śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (श्राद्धानि-समन्वय)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तृतीया: (the) third
• तृतीया: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक

• षोडशी: (the) sixteenth
• षोडशी: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडशिन्/षोडश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (sixteenth)

• स्मृता: is remembered/considered
• स्मृता: Kriya (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एकोद्दिष्टविधानेन: by the ekoddiṣṭa procedure
• एकोद्दिष्टविधानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक-उद्दिष्ट-विधान (प्रातिपदिक; एक + उद्दिष्ट + विधान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (एकस्य उद्दिष्टस्य विधानम्)

• कार्याणि: to be done/should be performed
• कार्याणि: Karya (Obligation/predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृ-धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/भाव्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मनुजैः: by people
• मनुजैः: Karta (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (thus/also)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Across navāśrāddha; explicitly highlights 3rd day and 16th day (ṣoḍaśī) observance per injunction.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Navāśrāddha plus emphasis on the 3rd and 16th day; all to be done by ekoddiṣṭa method for a single departed person.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as precise intentional action (saṅkalpa) shaping karmic continuity; focused offering (ekoddiṣṭa) as directed support to the jīva.

Application: Perform the prescribed śrāddhas using ekoddiṣṭa rules (single preta), especially observing the 3rd and 16th day rites per tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: ekoddiṣṭa procedure and navāśrāddha sequencing (2.5.67–71); Garuda Purana: sapīṇḍīkaraṇa/ṣoḍaśī discussions in related śrāddha chapters (where present)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekoddiṣṭa śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse directs that the prescribed śrāddhas for the departed should be performed using the Ekoddiṣṭa method, i.e., offerings aimed at one specific deceased person during the immediate post-death period.

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

By emphasizing time-bound śrāddha observances (including the 3rd and 16th), the verse reflects the Garuda Purana’s framework that the departed (preta) is supported through transitional rites meant to aid its onward journey and settling.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow a qualified priest/family tradition to perform the appropriate śrāddha schedule, ensuring the rite is directed to the specific departed (Ekoddiṣṭa), with sincerity and correctness rather than mere formality.