Varaha Purana 13.35: Adhyaya 13, Shloka 35

The Genealogy of the Pitṛs and the Determination of Śrāddha Times

Pūrva Bhāga · Śrāddha-vidhi (Ritual Ethics and Ancestral Offerings)

Devanagari script

श्राद्धस्य कालान् वक्ष्यामि तान् शृणुष्व द्विजोत्तम । श्राद्धार्हमागतं द्रव्यं विशिष्टमथवा द्विजम् ॥ १३.३५ ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 13.35

Transliteration

śrāddhasya kālān vakṣyāmi tān śṛṇuṣva dvijottama | śrāddhārham āgataṃ dravyaṃ viśiṣṭam athavā dvijam || 13.35 ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

अब मैं तुम्हे श्राद्ध के लिए सही टाइम बताता हूँ। ध्यान से सुनना। जब पास में पैसे आजाएँ या कोई अच्छा ब्राह्मण गेस्ट आजाए, तब श्राद्ध करना चाहिए।

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Word by Word

• śrāddhasya: of the śrāddha rite
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)

• kālān: times/occasions
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)

• vakṣyāmi: I shall tell
• Type: Verb
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: vac (धातु)

• tān: those
• Type: Noun
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural; refers to kālān
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• śṛṇuṣva: listen
• Type: Verb
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular; Ātmanepada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Root: śru (धातु)

• dvijottama: O best of twice-born
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th), Singular; karmadhāraya: uttamaḥ dvijaḥ
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Root: dvija + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)

• śrāddha-arham: fit for śrāddha
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; tatpuruṣa: śrāddhasya arham = ‘fit for śrāddha’
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Root: śrāddha + arha (प्रातिपदिक)

• āgatam: that has come/arrived
• Type: Verb
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past active participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with dravyam
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Root: ā + gam (धातु)

• dravyam: substance/wealth (offering material)
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक)

• viśiṣṭam: excellent/special
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies dravyam
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Root: vi + śiṣ (धातु)

• athavā: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Avyaya, disjunctive conjunction (विकल्प)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)

• dvijam: a Brahmin/twice-born (person)
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• śrāddhārham = śrāddha + arham (sandhi: a + a → ā)

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Karuna rasaSetting: Domestic-ritual setting

Speaker

Varāha

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

Varaha teaches her

Her state of mind

Curious, seeking dharma-guidance

What she asks

When should śrāddha be performed, and what occasions make it timely and efficacious?

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Dharma (pitṛ-ṛṇa and atithi-dharma)

Subjects

EthicsRitual PracticeDharma-shastra

Core idea

Ritual duty is opportunity-sensitive: capacity (dṛavya) and the arrival of worthy recipients (dvija/atithi) create dharmic ‘right time’.

In practice

Keep resources and intention ready for pitṛ rites; honor qualified guests promptly, converting circumstance into merit.

The Varaha avatara

With the Earth

Instructional address within the Varāha dialogue-frame.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Ritual Ethics
• Vaishnavism

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a Dharma-oriented, procedural framing of śrāddha by linking the rite to appropriate timing and eligibility, aligning Purāṇic instruction with broader Sanskrit ritual-discourse found in Dharmaśāstra traditions.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse; the focus is on ritual timing and qualifying conditions rather than sacred geography.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse emphasizes disciplined observance: perform śrāddha at proper times, especially when suitable resources are available or when a worthy learned guest arrives—highlighting preparedness and respectful hospitality as ethical priorities.