Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

निमन्त्रयेच्च पूर्वेद्युर्द्विजैर्भाव्यं च संयतैः / आजान्तांश्चैव पूर्वाह्नेह्यासनेषूपवेशयेत्

Transliteration

nimantrayecca pūrvedyurdvijairbhāvyaṃ ca saṃyataiḥ / ājāntāṃścaiva pūrvāhnehyāsaneṣūpaveśayet

Translation

മുന്‍ദിവസം സംയതരും യോഗ്യരുമായ ദ്വിജരെ (ബ്രാഹ്മണരെ) ക്ഷണിക്കണം; അടുത്ത ദിവസം പൂർവാഹ്നത്തിൽ വന്ന ക്ഷണിതരെ യഥാസനത്തിൽ ഇരുത്തണം।

Word by Word

• निमन्त्रयेत्: should invite
• निमन्त्रयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पूर्वेद्युः: on the previous day
• पूर्वेद्युः: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वेद्युस् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• द्विजैः: by/with brāhmaṇas (twice-born)
• द्विजैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; करणार्थे

• भाव्यम्: (what is) to be arranged/ensured
• भाव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be ensured)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• संयतैः: self-controlled
• संयतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संयत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्√यम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (द्विजैः)

• आजान्तान्: those who have arrived
• आजान्तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + जान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आ√जन् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘arrived’ (invited guests)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• पूर्वाह्ने: in the forenoon
• पूर्वाह्ने: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वाह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; काल-अधिकरण

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; explanatory/emphatic)

• आसनेषु: on the seats
• आसनेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; देश-अधिकरण

• उपवेशयेत्: should seat (them)
• उपवेशयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप√विश् (धातु) (णिच् causative: उपवेशय)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Invitation on previous day; seating in pūrvāhṇa (forenoon) on rite day

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual success depends on pūrva-saṃskāra: timely invitation, worthy guests, and proper seating (āsana-vidhi).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga discipline: right action with right preparation and right timing.

Application: Invite qualified brāhmaṇas a day in advance; on the rite day seat them respectfully in the forenoon according to prescribed arrangement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: household ritual hall / śrāddha-maṇḍapa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99 (invitation, seating, pātra-vidhi sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Dvijas (Brahmanas)

FAQs

What is the importance of inviting dvijas a day before Shraddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes procedural purity and preparedness: invitations should be made the previous day to worthy, disciplined dvijas so the rite is performed orderly and without haste.

How does this verse explain the correct timing for Shraddha arrangements?

It specifies a sequence—invite the qualified dvijas the day before, and seat the invited guests in the forenoon—indicating that timing and decorum are integral parts of dharmic funeral/ancestor rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Plan rites in advance, choose qualified and ethical officiants, and follow a calm, respectful schedule—treating ritual hospitality as part of spiritual discipline.