Shloka 17

Determining Rites for Difficult/Inauspicious Deaths; Annual and Daily Śrāddha Rules

Devanagari script

प्रस्थानस्यापि न ज्ञातौ दिनमासौ यदा पुनः / मृतवार्ताश्रुतौ ग्राह्यौ पूर्वप्रोक्तक्रमेण तु

Transliteration

prasthānasyāpi na jñātau dinamāsau yadā punaḥ / mṛtavārtāśrutau grāhyau pūrvaproktakrameṇa tu

Translation

പ്രസ്ഥാനം (മരണം) നടന്ന ദിനവും മാസവും വീണ്ടും അറിയപ്പെടാതിരുന്നാൽ, മരണവാർത്ത കേൾക്കുന്ന ദിനവും മാസവും മുൻപ് പറഞ്ഞ ക്രമപ്രകാരം തന്നെ സ്വീകരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• prasthānasya: of the departure
• prasthānasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasthāna (प्रस्थान प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अव्यय (also/even)

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

• jñātau: known
• jñātau: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण (known)

• dina-māsau: day and month
• dina-māsau: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (दिन) + māsa (मास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• yadā: when
• yadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (when)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (again)

• mṛta-vārtā-śrutau: (the) death-news and (the time) heard
• mṛta-vārtā-śrutau: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛta (मृत) + vārtā (वार्ता) + śruta (श्रुत कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः—‘मृतस्य वार्ता’ (news of death) + ‘श्रुतौ’ (heard); here as two items ‘(mṛtavārtā) and (śrutau)’ understood as dual

• grāhyau: to be adopted
• grāhyau: Vidhaya (विधेय/predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: grah (ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: विधेय-विशेषण; भाव्य (to be taken), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• pūrva-prokta-krameṇa: by the previously stated order
• pūrva-prokta-krameṇa: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (पूर्व) + prokta (प्र+वच् क्त) + krama (क्रम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘पूर्वं प्रोक्तः क्रमः’ → ‘पूर्वप्रोक्तक्रमेण’ (by the previously stated order)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेष/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: When death day/month are unknown, use the day/month when death news is heard; follow previously stated sequence (krama).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When death-date is unknown, adopt the date when death-news is heard, following the earlier stated sequence.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as sustaining order (ṛta) through correct saṃskāra; intention aligned with śāstra when facts are unavailable.

Application: In family records, if tithi/māsa of death is missing, fix observances by the date of confirmed notification and proceed with the prescribed krama.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.45 (preceding verses on krama for death rites and śrāddha timing)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of fixing the correct ritual time in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches a practical dharmic rule: if the actual day/month of death is unknown, rituals should be scheduled using the day/month when the death news is received, maintaining the previously taught sequence.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to rites?

In the Preta Kanda context, timely and properly ordered rites support the departed’s transition; when exact dates are missing, the scripture provides an alternative anchor (the hearing of the death news) so the prescribed rites are not neglected.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If a family learns of a death late or records are unclear, they may align Shraddha/pinda-related observances to the date the information was received, while following the earlier stated ritual order and consulting tradition/priests for local practice.