Shloka 3
Śrāddha Vidhi: Kāla (Timing), Pātra (Recipient), and Karma (Procedure) for Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and Piṇḍa
श्राद्धं प्रतिरुचिश्चैव श्राद्धकालाः प्रकीर्तिताः / अग्नियः सर्वदेवेषु श्रोत्रियो वेदविद्युवा
śrāddhaṃ pratiruciścaiva śrāddhakālāḥ prakīrtitāḥ / agniyaḥ sarvadeveṣu śrotriyo vedavidyuvā
ഇങ്ങനെ ശ്രാദ്ധം, ശേഷിയും ശാസ്ത്രസമ്മതമായ യുക്തിയും അനുസരിച്ചുള്ള അർപ്പണം, കൂടാതെ ശ്രാദ്ധത്തിനുള്ള യോഗ്യകാലങ്ങൾ പ്രസ്താവിച്ചു. എല്ലാ ദേവന്മാരിലും അഗ്നി പ്രധാനൻ; മനുഷ്യരിൽ വേദവിദനായ ശ്രോത്രിയൻ പ്രധാനൻ।
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Śrāddha-kāla (properly prescribed times; verse summarizes that these have been stated).
Concept: Śrāddha must be done with deśa-kāla-yogyatā (proper place/time/fitness) and with śraddhā and capacity-appropriate offerings; Agni is chief among devas as yajña-mukha; the śrotriya is chief among humans as the worthy vessel of dāna/śrāddha.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma upheld through yajña and right knowledge (śruti-prāmāṇya); purity of means and recipient (pātra) refines karma-phala.
Application: Perform śrāddha at prescribed times; give within means without ostentation; prioritize qualified Veda-learned brāhmaṇas and maintain fire/Agni reverence in rites.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: household/ritual space
Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha sections on śrāddha-kāla, pātra-lakṣaṇa (worthy recipients), and agni-prādhānya in offerings (contextual internal continuity)
FAQs
This verse emphasizes that Śrāddha must be performed at prescribed times; correct timing is treated as part of the rite’s validity and dharmic correctness.
It establishes ritual hierarchy: Agni is central among deities for offerings, and a śrotriya (Veda-trained, properly qualified priest) is central among humans for correctly conducting Vedic rites like Śrāddha.
When performing Śrāddha, follow traditional calendrical guidance for timing and engage a properly trained, Veda-competent priest to maintain ritual integrity.