Shloka 2

Determining Rites for Difficult/Inauspicious Deaths; Annual and Daily Śrāddha Rules

Devanagari script

विधिनाचेतरैरेवमेकोद्दिष्टं न पार्वणम्

Transliteration

vidhinācetarairevamekoddiṣṭaṃ na pārvaṇam

Translation

વિધિ મુજબ કરેલું આ શ્રાદ્ધ ‘એકોદ્દિષ્ટ’ (એક પિતૃ માટે) કહેવાય; આ ‘પાર્વણ’ (બહુ-પિતૃ) શ્રાદ્ધ નથી।

Word by Word

• विधिना: by the prescribed rule
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण

• चेतरैः: and by others
• चेतरैः: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च + इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सन्ध्यन्तरगत ‘च’ (and) + ‘इतरैः’ (instrumental plural); here functioning as connective phrase ‘and by others’

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार (thus)

• एकोद्दिष्टम्: the ekoddiṣṭa (rite)
• एकोद्दिष्टम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक-उद्दिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; a type of śrāddha

• न: not
• न: Niṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• पार्वणम्: the pārvaṇa (rite)
• पार्वणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As per śrāddha-vidhi; verse focuses on classification rather than date.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual taxonomy and correctness: ekoddiṣṭa is defined by proper procedure and is distinct from pārvaṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as order (ṛta) expressed through precise observance; right action purifies intention.

Application: When performing śrāddha, confirm whether the rite is ekoddiṣṭa (single intended preta/pitṛ) or pārvaṇa (multi-Pitṛ) and follow the matching procedure without mixing forms.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (griha/śrāddha-vedi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-khaṇḍa discussions distinguishing ekoddiṣṭa and pārvaṇa (adjacent verses in 2.45)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

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

This verse clarifies that ekoddiṣṭa is a distinct, rule-bound rite aimed at a single departed person, and should not be confused with the broader pārvaṇa offering for the Pitṛs as a group.

How does this verse distinguish ekoddiṣṭa from pārvaṇa śrāddha?

It explicitly labels the properly performed rite here as ekoddiṣṭa (single, specified recipient) and states it is not pārvaṇa (collective ancestral śrāddha), indicating different ritual intent and classification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When arranging post-death rites, ensure the intended śrāddha type matches the purpose—single-departed-focused (ekoddiṣṭa) versus ancestral collective (pārvaṇa)—and follow the prescribed procedure rather than mixing categories.