Shloka 2

Śrāddha Vidhi (Pārvaṇa-Śrāddha): Invitations, Arghya, Protective Rites, Piṇḍa Offering, Dakṣiṇā, and Visarjana

Devanagari script

प्रदक्षिणोपवीतेन देवान्वामोपवीतिना / पितॄन्निमन्त्रयेत्पादौ क्षालयेद्वाक्यमन्त्रतः

Transliteration

pradakṣiṇopavītena devānvāmopavītinā / pitṝnnimantrayetpādau kṣālayedvākyamantrataḥ

Translation

Dengan memakai yajñopavīta (benang suci) secara kanan, hendaklah menjemput para Deva; dengan memakainya secara kiri, hendaklah menjemput para Pitṛ (leluhur). Kemudian, sambil melafazkan kata-kata yang ditetapkan sebagai mantra, hendaklah membasuh kaki (mereka).

Word by Word

• pradakṣiṇa-upavītena: with the sacred thread worn in the proper (right) manner
• pradakṣiṇa-upavītena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + upavīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental singular; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (pradakṣiṇaṃ upavītam)

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Accusative plural

• vāma-upavītinā: with the sacred thread worn on the left (reverse)
• vāma-upavītinā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक) + upavītin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental singular; तत्पुरुष (vāmaṃ upavītaṃ yasya)

• pitṝn: the ancestors
• pitṝn: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Accusative plural

• nimantrayet: should invite
• nimantrayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni (उपसर्ग) + √mantr (मन्त्र्)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, 3rd person singular

• pādau: (their) feet
• pādau: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन — Accusative dual

• kṣālayet: should wash
• kṣālayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣāl (क्षाल्)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, 3rd person singular

• vākya-mantrataḥ: according to the prescribed words/mantra
• vākya-mantrataḥ: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तसिल्)
• Form: तसिलन्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘according to the words/mantra’; तत्पुरुष (vākya-mantra)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Distinct ritual protocols for devas vs. pitṛs; embodied symbols (thread orientation) align the performer with the intended realm; humility through service (washing feet).

Vedantic Theme: Ritual as disciplined attention (ekāgratā) and symbolic alignment; outer order supporting inner purity (śuddhi).

Application: In any sacred/commemorative act, maintain clear intention and correct procedure; express respect through tangible service and cleanliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (śrāddha venue)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa: repeated apasavya for pitṛ-kārya and savya for deva-kārya (internal consistency)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitṛs
• Upavīta (sacred thread)

FAQs

What is the importance of wearing upavīta vs apavīta in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse differentiates Deva-kārya and Pitṛ-kārya: the sacred thread is worn rightward (upavīta) when addressing Devas and leftward (apavīta) when addressing Pitṛs, marking the ritual intention and recipient.

How does this verse guide Garuda Purana death-rite procedure (śrāddha)?

It gives a step-by-step ritual cue: first invite Devas with upavīta, then invite Pitṛs with apavīta, and perform pāda-prakṣālana while reciting the sanctioned verbal formulas as mantras.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or pitṛ offerings, maintain clear ritual intent—use the correct upavīta orientation for Devas vs Pitṛs and recite the prescribed words with mantra-like focus and respect.