Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

ऐणरौरववा राहशाशमांसैर्यथाक्रमम् / मासवृद्ध्यापि तुष्यन्ति दत्तैरिह पितामहाः

Transliteration

aiṇarauravavā rāhaśāśamāṃsairyathākramam / māsavṛddhyāpi tuṣyanti dattairiha pitāmahāḥ

Translation

ഇവിടെ ഏണ, റൗരവ, റാഹ, ശശ (മുയൽ) എന്നിവയുടെ മാംസം ശാസ്ത്രോക്ത ക്രമത്തിൽ അർപ്പിച്ചാൽ—മാസംതോറും അളവ് വർധിപ്പിച്ചാലും—പിതാമഹ പിതൃകൾ തൃപ്തരാകും.

Word by Word

• ऐण: deer/antelope (meat)
• ऐण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे बहुवचन-तृतीया-समासाङ्ग (in compound; ‘of deer/antelope’)

• रौरव: raurava (a specific kind)
• रौरव: Visheshya (Head-noun in compound/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे बहुवचन-तृतीया-समासाङ्ग (in compound; a kind of animal/meat)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• राह: rāha (a specific kind)
• राह: Visheshya (Head-noun in compound/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे बहुवचन-तृतीया-समासाङ्ग (in compound; a kind of animal/meat)

• शाश: hare
• शाश: Visheshya (Head-noun in compound/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे बहुवचन-तृतीया-समासाङ्ग (in compound; hare/rabbit)

• मांसैः: with meats
• मांसैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• यथाक्रमम्: in due order
• यथाक्रमम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-क्रम (अव्ययीभावसमास; यथा + क्रम)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मासवृद्ध्या: by monthly increase
• मासवृद्ध्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास-वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक; मासस्य वृद्धि:)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; हेतौ/साधने (by increase)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—अपि/यद्यपि (also/even)

• तुष्यन्ति: are satisfied
• तुष्यन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दत्तैः: by what is given
• दत्तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पितामहाः: the forefathers (pitṛs)
• पितामहाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitamaha

Timing: Recurring monthly observance implied by ‘māsa-vṛddhyā’.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛs (here ‘pitāmahāḥ’) are satisfied by specific meats in prescribed sequence; increasing quantity month by month enhances/extends satisfaction.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-niyama: precise causes (dravya, krama, mātra) yield precise effects; dharma as a technology of sacred reciprocity.

Application: Follow the stated order and proportional increase (māsa-vṛddhi) in offerings during recurring śrāddha observances, maintaining śauca and correct saṅkalpa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: śrāddha venue (gṛha/vedi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Adjacent Garuda Purana śrāddha verses on dravya-krama and pitṛ-tṛpti durations (1.99.36-45 context)

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

What is the importance of month-wise increase (māsavṛddhi) in Garuda Purana śrāddha?

This verse states that the Pitṛs are pleased when offerings are made in the prescribed sequence, even with a month-by-month increase—indicating a structured, gradual pattern of giving in śrāddha observance.

How does this verse explain the purpose of offerings to the ancestors?

It frames offerings (dāna in the śrāddha context) as a direct means of satisfying the Pitṛs, emphasizing correct order (yathākramam) and proper items as the key ritual principle.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow śrāddha practices in a dhārmic, text-guided way—prioritizing sincerity, correct procedure, and culturally appropriate substitutions as advised by one’s tradition and family priest.