Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

आवाहनाग्नौकरणरहितं त्वपसव्यवत् / उपतिष्ठतामित्यक्षय्यस्थाने विप्रान्विसर्जयेत्

Transliteration

āvāhanāgnaukaraṇarahitaṃ tvapasavyavat / upatiṣṭhatāmityakṣayyasthāne viprānvisarjayet

Translation

ആവാഹനാഗ്നിയിൽ സമാപനകർമ്മം ചെയ്യാതെ അപസവ്യഭാവത്തിൽ നിന്നുകൊണ്ട്, ‘ഉപതിഷ്ഠതാം’ (തൃപ്തരായി ഇരിക്കട്ടെ) എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു അക്ഷയ്യസ്ഥാനത്ത് ബ്രാഹ്മണരെ വിടവാങ്ങിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• आवाहन: invocation (of the fire)
• आवाहन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे प्रातिपदिकम्; समासाङ्ग (आवाहन-), एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (समासपूर्वपद)

• अग्नौ: in the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• करण: instrument/rite (act of doing)
• करण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग (करण-), एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (समासपूर्वपद)

• रहितम्: devoid (of)
• रहितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• अपसव्यवत्: in the reverse (leftward) manner
• अपसव्यवत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपसव्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (तद्धितान्त/वत्-प्रत्ययान्त), क्रियाविशेषणम्

• उपतिष्ठताम्: let the two stand near / attend
• उपतिष्ठताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative)

• अक्षय्यस्थाने: in the imperishable place (designated spot)
• अक्षय्यस्थाने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षय्य-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक; अक्षय्य + स्थान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अक्षय्यस्य स्थानम्)

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

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

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: at the conclusion of the āvāhana-fire segment within the śrāddha sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper completion/transition in śrāddha: dismissing brāhmaṇas with prescribed posture and words to seal the rite’s fruit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier: disciplined action (niyata-karma) supports inner steadiness (śama) and social-sacral order.

Application: In any memorial/ancestral rite, follow a clear closing protocol: respectful dismissal, gratitude, and maintaining ritual boundaries to avoid doṣa (procedural fault).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual precinct (śrāddha-maṇḍala / yajña-śālā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta-kalpa/Śrāddha-kalpa sections describing ekoddiṣṭa and sapiṇḍīkaraṇa closures; Earlier ‘pūrvavat’ procedural sequences in the same adhyāya (1.99)

Characters & Entities

• Vipras (Brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

What is the importance of dismissing brāhmaṇas (vipra-visarjana) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse treats the formal dismissal as the rite’s closure—done with a specific posture (apasavya) and a set formula—so the śrāddha-related act is considered properly completed.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct ritual completion in pitṛ-related contexts, implying that properly performed rites (like śrāddha and associated offerings) support the deceased’s welfare and orderly post-death transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha or memorial rites, follow an authentic procedure under competent guidance—especially the closing steps and respectful dismissal of officiants—rather than treating the ending as informal.