Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

पितृपात्रं तदुत्तानं कृत्वा विप्रान्विसर्जयेत् / प्रदक्षिणमनुव्रज्य भुञ्जीत पितृसेवितम्

Transliteration

pitṛpātraṃ taduttānaṃ kṛtvā viprānvisarjayet / pradakṣiṇamanuvrajya bhuñjīta pitṛsevitam

Translation

പിതൃപാത്രം മറിച്ചുവെച്ച്, വിപ്രന്മാരെ ആദരത്തോടെ വിസർജിക്കണം; പിന്നെ അവരെ പ്രദക്ഷിണയായി അനുഗമിച്ച്, പിതൃസേവയിൽ അർപ്പിച്ച ആഹാരം ഭുജിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• पितृपात्रम्: the vessel for the ancestors
• पितृपात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पितॄणां पात्रम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; निर्देशक (demonstrative)

• उत्तानम्: turned upward, upturned
• उत्तानम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (पात्रम् इत्यस्य)

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा → कृत्वा (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• विप्रान्: Brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• विसर्जयेत्: should dismiss/send off
• विसर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रदक्षिणम्: clockwise, to the right
• प्रदक्षिणम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverb: 'clockwise/rightward')

• अनुव्रज्य: having followed
• अनुव्रज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु + व्रज् (धातु) + ल्यप् → अनुव्रज्य (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• भुञ्जीत: should eat
• भुञ्जीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पितृसेवितम्: (food) served/partaken by the ancestors
• पितृसेवितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ + सेवित (सेव् धातु + क्त)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पितृभिः सेवितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: post-offering conclusion and guest dismissal

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual completion requires proper signs (pātra inversion), honoring brāhmaṇas, and partaking of pitṛ-sevita food as prasad-like remainder.

Vedantic Theme: Yajña-śeṣa (sanctified remainder) purifies; honoring the worthy (brāhmaṇa/atithi) refines ego and supports dharmic order.

Application: Conclude duties with clear closure steps; honor teachers/elders; share and partake of ‘blessed’ food mindfully, avoiding waste.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: gṛha/śrāddha dining-ritual area

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99 (pātra handling, brāhmaṇa-visarjana, pradakṣiṇā, bhojana)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Vipras (Brahmanas)

FAQs

What is the importance of dismissing brāhmaṇas properly in Garuda Purana śrāddha?

This verse emphasizes that the rite is completed with respectful send-off of the officiating brāhmaṇas, indicating closure of the pitṛ-offering and proper observance of dharma.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in Garuda Purana?

By prescribing correct pitṛ-kriyā (ancestral rites), it supports the departed’s post-death welfare as taught in the Garuda Purana—ritual correctness is presented as spiritually consequential for the preta/pitṛ state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with care: show gratitude to those who assist in sacred duties, complete the ritual respectfully, and treat śrāddha as a disciplined act of remembrance rather than a casual meal.