Shloka 112

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

साम्प्रतं साग्निके कार्यं द्वादशाहे सपिण्डनम् / न चासौ कुरुते यावत् प्रेत एव स वह्निमान् / द्वादशाहे ततः कार्यं साग्निकेन सपिण्डनम्

Transliteration

sāmprataṃ sāgnike kāryaṃ dvādaśāhe sapiṇḍanam / na cāsau kurute yāvat preta eva sa vahnimān / dvādaśāhe tataḥ kāryaṃ sāgnikena sapiṇḍanam

Translation

ഇപ്പോൾ, സാഗ്നികൻ (പവിത്ര അഗ്നി പാലിക്കുന്നവൻ) ആണെങ്കിൽ, ദ്വാദശാഹത്തിൽ (പന്ത്രണ്ടാം ദിവസം) സപിണ്ഡനം ചെയ്യണം. അത് ചെയ്യുന്നതുവരെ ആ അഗ്നിധാരി പ്രേതാവസ്ഥയിൽ തന്നെയിരിക്കും. അതിനാൽ ദ്വാദശാഹത്തിൽ സാഗ്നികനാൽ സപിണ്ഡനം നിർബന്ധമായി നടത്തണം.

Word by Word

• साम्प्रतम्: now/at present
• साम्प्रतम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साम्प्रतम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; time-adverb (कालवाचक)

• स-अग्निके: for one who maintains the fire (sāgnika)
• स-अग्निके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Context)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + अग्निक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular; 'in the case of one with sacred fire'

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय कृदन्त (gerundive/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; predicate

• द्वादशाहे: on the twelfth day
• द्वादशाहे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (द्वादश + अहन्); पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• सपिण्डनम्: sapiṇḍana (making into one piṇḍa)
• सपिण्डनम्: कर्ता/विधेय (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपिण्डन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; negation

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• असौ: he/that person
• असौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

• कुरुते: does/performs
• कुरुते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यावत्: as long as/until
• यावत्: अवधि (Limit)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; limit particle 'as long as/until' (अवधि)

• प्रेतः: a preta
• प्रेतः: कर्ता (Karta; predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

• एव: indeed
• एव: निश्चय (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

• वह्निमान्: one who has (the) fire
• वह्निमान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of सः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्निमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular; possessive adjective (मतुप्)

• द्वादशाहे: on the twelfth day
• द्वादशाहे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb 'then/thereafter'

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय कृदन्त (gerundive/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• स-अग्निकेन: by the sāgnika (householder with fire)
• स-अग्निकेन: कर्ता/करण (Agent/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + अग्निक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental singular; 'by/for the sāgnika (person)'

• सपिण्डनम्: sapiṇḍana rite
• सपिण्डनम्: कर्म/विधेय (Thing enjoined)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपिण्डन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Dvādāśāha (12th day) for a sāgnika

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adhikāra-based timing: for a sāgnika, sapiṇḍana on the 12th day is mandatory; omission prolongs preta-status despite ritual fire association.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual identity (agni) does not override post-death liminality; dharma operates through precise injunctions (vidhi) and timely completion.

Application: If the deceased (or the household tradition) is sāgnika, prioritize arranging the 12th-day sapiṇḍana without delay; coordinate priest, materials, and family presence accordingly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic-ritual setting tied to agni-maintenance

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34 (special rules for sāgnika vs. others; twelfth-day rites; preta-status conditions)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of sapīṇḍana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that sapīṇḍana is the key rite that ends the preta-condition and joins the departed to the ancestral (pitṛ) continuum; for a sāgnika it is specifically prescribed on the twelfth day.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It presents a transitional phase: the deceased remains a preta until the prescribed ritual act (sapīṇḍana) is completed, indicating that post-death rites are viewed as completing the soul’s social-ritual passage into the pitṛ realm.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following traditional śrāddha practice, ensure the timing and completion of key post-funeral rites (especially the twelfth-day observance for a sāgnika) with competent guidance, emphasizing duty (dharma) toward ancestors and family continuity.