Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

यजेत्तदधिकर्कन्धूमिश्राः पिण्डा यैवः श्रिताः / एकोद्दिष्टं दैवहीनं एकान्नैकपवित्रकम्

Transliteration

yajettadadhikarkandhūmiśrāḥ piṇḍā yaivaḥ śritāḥ / ekoddiṣṭaṃ daivahīnaṃ ekānnaikapavitrakam

Translation

കർക്കന്ധൂ (ഇലന്തപ്പഴം/ജുജുബ്) അധികമായി ചേർത്ത പിണ്ഡങ്ങളാൽ ഈ കർമ്മം നടത്തണം. ഇത് ഏകോദ്ദിഷ്ട ശ്രാദ്ധം—ദേവാർപ്പണം ഇല്ലാത്തത്; ഒരൊറ്റ പാകം ചെയ്ത അന്നം കൊണ്ടു നടത്തപ്പെടുന്നു, പല പവിത്രീകരണങ്ങളും ആവശ്യമില്ല।

Word by Word

• यजेत्: should worship/offer
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• अधिकर्कन्धूमिश्राः: mixed with (extra) jujube/ber (karkandhu)
• अधिकर्कन्धूमिश्राः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि + कर्कन्धु + मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कर्कन्धुना मिश्राः; अधि- उपसर्गेण 'अधिक' अर्थः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (पिण्डाः)

• पिण्डाः: rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• यैवः: just as / exactly (textual form uncertain)
• यैवः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (अर्थे: यथैव/य एव इति पाठभेदसम्भवः)

• श्रिताः: placed/arranged; resorted to
• श्रिताः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/वर्णन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रि (धातु) + क्त → श्रित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि/कर्तरि कृदन्त (past participle: 'resorted/placed')

• एकोद्दिष्टम्: intended for one (single)
• एकोद्दिष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + उद्दिष्ट (उद् + दिश् धातु + क्त)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (एकं उद्दिष्टम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• दैवहीनम्: without offerings to the gods
• दैवहीनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैव + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (दैवेन हीनम्/दैवहीनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• एकान्न: having one kind of food
• एकान्न: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय (एकम् अन्नम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• एकपवित्रकम्: with a single purifier (ring of kuśa)
• एकपवित्रकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + पवित्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय (एकं पवित्रकम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: ekoddiṣṭa occasion (typically for a specific departed, often early post-death or specific memorial)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ekoddiṣṭa śrāddha is a targeted ancestral rite: deva-offerings omitted, single cooked meal, simplified purity requirements; piṇḍas may include karkandhū mixture.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as disciplined means for duty and gratitude; intentionality (saṅkalpa) narrows the act to its beneficiary.

Application: When performing memorial acts, keep them focused and sincere rather than elaborate; follow clear procedural constraints; prepare offerings thoughtfully.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: śrāddha preparation area (kitchen/altar)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99 (ekoddiṣṭa śrāddha details; piṇḍa ingredients and constraints)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Pretas
• Devas

FAQs

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

This verse highlights ekoddiṣṭa as a focused rite meant for one departed soul, marked by simplicity and directness—performed without deva-offerings and with a single prepared meal.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey?

By prescribing specific piṇḍa offerings, it supports the preta-oriented rites that are understood to aid the departed during the transitional post-death state described in the Preta Kanda.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

It emphasizes doing śrāddha with disciplined simplicity—clear intention, correct offerings, and avoidance of unnecessary ritual complexity—while following one’s family or regional śrāddha tradition.