Shloka 51

Śrāddha as Trans-realm Nourishment; Pitṛ-Conveyance; Piṇḍa-born Body and the ātivāhika; Bhakti-based Release

Devanagari script

अपरं श्राद्धमाहात्म्यं किञ्चिच्छृणु समासतः / अमावस्यादिने प्राप्ते गृहद्वारे समास्थिताः

Transliteration

aparaṃ śrāddhamāhātmyaṃ kiñcicchṛṇu samāsataḥ / amāvasyādine prāpte gṛhadvāre samāsthitāḥ

Translation

今また、シュラーダ（śrāddha）の偉大さについて、さらに一つを要約して聞け。アマーヴァースヤー（新月の日）が来ると、亡き者とピトリ（祖霊）は家の門口に集い立つ。

Word by Word

• अपरम्: another, further
• अपरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• श्राद्धमाहात्म्यम्: the greatness of śrāddha
• श्राद्धमाहात्म्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्राद्धस्य माहात्म्यम्)

• किञ्चित्: a little
• किञ्चित्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: परिमाण/अल्पत्ववाचक अव्यय (indefinite adverbial: 'a little')

• शृणु: hear, listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• समासतः: briefly
• समासतः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समासतः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb: 'briefly/in summary')

• अमावस्यादिने: on the new-moon day
• अमावस्यादिने: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमावस्या (प्रातिपदिक) + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Case 7), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अमावस्यायाः दिने)

• प्राप्ते: when (it) has arrived
• प्राप्ते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• गृहद्वारे: at the house-door
• गृहद्वारे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Case 7), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गृहस्य द्वारे)

• समास्थिताः: were standing/assembled
• समास्थिताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Amāvasyā (new-moon day)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha-māhātmya: time (amāvasyā) and place (gṛha-dvāra) are ritually significant; Pitṛs are conceived as present and expectant.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and ṛta expressed through ritual order (niyama): proper timing aligns the visible and subtle worlds; dharma sustains intergenerational continuity.

Application: Schedule śrāddha/ tarpaṇa on amāvasyā (or prescribed tithi) with mindful hospitality—clean threshold, offerings, and focused intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: household threshold

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.10.52-54 (Pitṛs’ wind-like subtlety, hunger until sunset, and the injunction to perform amāvasyā-śrāddha)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Pretas

FAQs

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

This verse states that on Amāvasyā the departed/ancestral beings are considered to gather at the household entrance, highlighting it as an especially potent time to offer śrāddha and related rites.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, the departed remain dependent on ritual offerings; the verse implies their periodic approach to the living realm (especially on Amāvasyā) to receive śrāddha benefits that aid their post-death condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe Amāvasyā as a dedicated day for remembrance, charity, and (where tradition permits) śrāddha/pinda offerings, cultivating gratitude to ancestors and disciplined dharmic living.