Shloka 124

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

Devanagari script

पतिपुत्रविहीनानां गोत्री नास्ति न देवरः / एकोद्दिष्टेन दातव्यं परेण सह भ्रातृभिः

Transliteration

patiputravihīnānāṃ gotrī nāsti na devaraḥ / ekoddiṣṭena dātavyaṃ pareṇa saha bhrātṛbhiḥ

Translation

ഭർത്താവും പുത്രനും ഇല്ലാത്ത സ്ത്രീകൾക്ക് ഗോത്രപ്രതിനിധിയും ഇല്ല, ദേവരും ഇല്ല. അതിനാൽ അടുത്ത ബന്ധു സഹോദരന്മാരോടൊപ്പം ഏകോദ്ദിഷ്ട ശ്രാദ്ധദാനം നടത്തണം।

Word by Word

• पति-पुत्र-विहीनानाम्: of those (women) devoid of husband and son
• पति-पुत्र-विहीनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: बहुवचन, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); लिङ्गम् प्रसङ्गात् स्त्रीलिङ्ग (स्त्रीणाम्); तत्पुरुष-समास (पति-पुत्राभ्यां विहीनाः)

• गोत्री: a gotrī (clan-relative/agnate)
• गोत्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोत्रिन्/गोत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अस्ति: exists/is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• देवरः: brother-in-law (husband’s younger brother)
• देवरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एक-उद्दिष्टेन: with the ekoddiṣṭa (single-oblation rite)
• एक-उद्दिष्टेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्दिष्ट (कृदन्त; √दिश्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (एकं च तत् उद्दिष्टम्)

• दातव्यम्: should be given/offered
• दातव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/passive necessity), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (to be given)

• परेण: by another (person)
• परेण: Karana (करण/Associate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘अन्येन’ अर्थे

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-योगे अव्यय (preposition/adverb: with)

• भ्रातृभिः: with brothers
• भ्रातृभिः: Karana (करण/Associate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the preta-stage śrāddha window as prescribed (ekoddiṣṭa sequence before sapīṇḍīkaraṇa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When husband/son and formal gotra-agent are absent, ekoddiṣṭa is to be offered by the nearest relative with the deceased’s brothers.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as impersonal order (niyama) overriding personal limitation; continuity of saṃskāra despite social absence.

Application: In cases of isolated death (no spouse/children), appoint closest eligible relative(s) to perform ekoddiṣṭa with family consensus and priestly guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha passages distinguishing ekoddiṣṭa (preta-focused) from parvaṇa (pitṛ-focused); Adjacent 2.34.123 and 2.34.125 on sapīṇḍana and remedial scheduling

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekoddiṣṭa in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse treats Ekoddiṣṭa as the proper single-intent offering for a specific departed person, and clarifies who is eligible to perform it when the usual lineage representative is absent.

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

Indirectly, it emphasizes that correct post-death rites (like Ekoddiṣṭa) must still be carried out through the nearest eligible relatives, supporting the departed’s onward journey and ancestral integration as taught in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If the customary performer (husband/son or a designated in-law) is not available, families should arrange the Ekoddiṣṭa/śrāddha through the closest responsible relatives in consultation with a competent priest, ensuring the rite is not neglected.