Shloka 13
Śrāddha Vidhi (Pārvaṇa-Śrāddha): Invitations, Arghya, Protective Rites, Piṇḍa Offering, Dakṣiṇā, and Visarjana
गन्धपुष्पे हस्ताभ्यां दत्त्वा पितृपात्रमुत्थाप्य या दिव्येति पठित्वा अमुकगोत्रास्मत्पितः ! अमुकदेवशर्मन् ! सपत्नीक ! एष ते ऽर्घ्यः स्वधा / अपवित्रं पात्रं गृहीत्वा वामपार्श्वे दक्षिणे कुशोपरि ॐ पितृभ्यः स्थानमसीत्यधोमुखपात्रस्थापनम्
gandhapuṣpe hastābhyāṃ dattvā pitṛpātramutthāpya yā divyeti paṭhitvā amukagotrāsmatpitaḥ ! amukadevaśarman ! sapatnīka ! eṣa te 'rghyaḥ svadhā / apavitraṃ pātraṃ gṛhītvā vāmapārśve dakṣiṇe kuśopari oṃ pitṛbhyaḥ sthānamasītyadhomukhapātrasthāpanam
Ayant offert du parfum et des fleurs avec les deux mains, on soulève le récipient pour les ancêtres en récitant « Yā divyā... ». S'adressant au père par son nom et sa lignée, on dit : « Ô Père, cet arghya est pour toi ; svadhā ! » Prenant le récipient rituellement impur, on le place à l'envers sur de l'herbe kuśa du côté droit, en disant : « Om, ceci est un siège pour les Pitṛs. »
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya; ritual injunction style)
Ritual Type: Parvana
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Arghya offering to a specified Pitṛ and establishment of pitṛ-sthāna via vessel placement
Concept: Personalized offering (arghya) to a named ancestor with svadhā; ritual polarity of pure/impure vessels and correct placement embodies order and reverence.
Vedantic Theme: Karma with bhāva: naming and intention (saṅkalpa-like address) directs the subtle fruit; form supports remembrance and gratitude.
Application: Offer gandha/puṣpa with both hands, recite the water mantra, address the intended Pitṛ by gotra/name, then place the designated vessel on kuśa in the prescribed orientation.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: ritual micro-space around vessels
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.218 arghya procedure; pitṛ-pātra handling and kuśa placement in adjacent verses
FAQs
This verse shows that arghya is the formal respectful offering to the Pitṛs, and “svadhā” is the dedicated invocation that seals the offering specifically for ancestors in Śrāddha/tarpaṇa rites.
Kuśa is used as a ritual purifier and seat for sacred acts; placing the vessel as instructed—while declaring “a seat for the Pitṛs”—marks the offering-space as belonging to the ancestors and follows the prescribed pitṛ-rite orientation (adhomukha) described here.
If performing Śrāddha or tarpaṇa, follow a careful, respectful sequence—clean materials, correct recitations, and intentional dedication to ancestors—treating the rite as an act of gratitude and dharmic responsibility.