Shloka 10

Śrāddha Vidhi: Kāla (Timing), Pātra (Recipient), and Karma (Procedure) for Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and Piṇḍa

Devanagari script

मातामहानामप्येवं तन्त्रं वा वैश्वदेविकम् / हस्तप्रक्षालनं दत्त्वा विष्टरार्थे कुशानपि

Transliteration

mātāmahānāmapyevaṃ tantraṃ vā vaiśvadevikam / hastaprakṣālanaṃ dattvā viṣṭarārthe kuśānapi

Translation

同様に、母方の祖父たちのためにも規定通りに、あるいはヴァイシュヴァデーヴァの手順に従って（儀式を行うべきである）。手を洗うための水を捧げた後、儀式用の座席を準備するためにクシャ草も提供すべきである。

Word by Word

• मातामहानाम्: of the maternal grandfathers
• मातामहानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• तन्त्रम्: procedure/ritual method
• तन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय/कर्म (procedure)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• वैश्वदेविकम्: pertaining to the Viśvedevas
• वैश्वदेविकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैश्वदेविक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (तन्त्रम्)

• हस्तप्रक्षालनम्: hand-washing
• हस्तप्रक्षालनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त + प्रक्षालन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• विष्टरार्थे: for the purpose of the seat/spread (vistarā)
• विष्टरार्थे: Adhikarana (Purpose/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्टर + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजन-अधिकरण (for the purpose of)

• कुशान्: kuśa grass blades
• कुशान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्म

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitamaha

Timing: Pre-offering hospitality/purification stage (before main offerings/feeding)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ancestral duty extends to maternal lineage; ritual purity and proper implements (kuśa, water) are essential aṅgas.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as sustaining social-cosmic continuity (pitṛ-ṛṇa repayment) through correct saṃskāra.

Application: Apply the same śrāddha procedure for maternal grandfathers; offer water for hand-washing; provide kuśa for preparing the ritual seat.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space with seating (viṣṭara) preparation

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99 (mātāmaha śrāddha; vaiśvadevika option; viṣṭara/kuśa)

Characters & Entities

• Mātāmaha (maternal grandfathers)
• Vaiśvadeva

FAQs

What is the importance of mentioning mātāmaha (maternal grandfathers) in Garuḍa Purāṇa rituals?

This verse indicates that offerings and procedural respect in śrāddha are not limited to paternal ancestors; maternal-line ancestors (mātāmaha) are also included with comparable ritual completeness.

How does this verse explain the role of Vaiśvadeva in ancestor rites?

It allows an alternative or accompanying procedure—“vaiśvadevika”—showing that certain śrāddha steps may be aligned with the broader Vaiśvadeva framework (offerings oriented to the collective divine order) while still serving pitṛ obligations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing remembrance/ancestor rites, include both maternal and paternal lineages, keep the ritual space clean (symbolized by hand-washing), and prepare a respectful seat/setting (symbolized by kuśa) for offerings and prayer.