Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

यजेत्तदधिकर्कन्धूमिश्राः पिण्डा यैवः श्रिताः / एकोद्दिष्टं दैवहीनं एकान्नैकपवित्रकम्

Transliteration

yajettadadhikarkandhūmiśrāḥ piṇḍā yaivaḥ śritāḥ / ekoddiṣṭaṃ daivahīnaṃ ekānnaikapavitrakam

Translation

Hendaklah dilakukan upacara dengan piṇḍa (bebola nasi) yang disediakan dengan campuran tambahan karkandhū (buah jujube). Ini ialah persembahan ekoddiṣṭa—tanpa persembahan kepada para Deva—menggunakan satu hidangan nasi yang dimasak, dan tidak memerlukan banyak penyucian ritual.

Word by Word

• यजेत्: should worship/offer
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; निर्देशक

• अधिकर्कन्धूमिश्राः: mixed with (extra) jujube/ber (karkandhu)
• अधिकर्कन्धूमिश्राः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि + कर्कन्धु + मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कर्कन्धुना मिश्राः; अधि- उपसर्गेण 'अधिक' अर्थः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (पिण्डाः)

• पिण्डाः: rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• यैवः: just as / exactly (textual form uncertain)
• यैवः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (अर्थे: यथैव/य एव इति पाठभेदसम्भवः)

• श्रिताः: placed/arranged; resorted to
• श्रिताः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/वर्णन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रि (धातु) + क्त → श्रित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि/कर्तरि कृदन्त (past participle: 'resorted/placed')

• एकोद्दिष्टम्: intended for one (single)
• एकोद्दिष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + उद्दिष्ट (उद् + दिश् धातु + क्त)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (एकं उद्दिष्टम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• दैवहीनम्: without offerings to the gods
• दैवहीनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैव + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (दैवेन हीनम्/दैवहीनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• एकान्न: having one kind of food
• एकान्न: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय (एकम् अन्नम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• एकपवित्रकम्: with a single purifier (ring of kuśa)
• एकपवित्रकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + पवित्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय (एकं पवित्रकम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: ekoddiṣṭa occasion (typically for a specific departed, often early post-death or specific memorial)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ekoddiṣṭa śrāddha is a targeted ancestral rite: deva-offerings omitted, single cooked meal, simplified purity requirements; piṇḍas may include karkandhū mixture.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as disciplined means for duty and gratitude; intentionality (saṅkalpa) narrows the act to its beneficiary.

Application: When performing memorial acts, keep them focused and sincere rather than elaborate; follow clear procedural constraints; prepare offerings thoughtfully.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: śrāddha preparation area (kitchen/altar)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99 (ekoddiṣṭa śrāddha details; piṇḍa ingredients and constraints)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Pretas
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of ekoddiṣṭa śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights ekoddiṣṭa as a focused rite meant for one departed soul, marked by simplicity and directness—performed without deva-offerings and with a single prepared meal.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey?

By prescribing specific piṇḍa offerings, it supports the preta-oriented rites that are understood to aid the departed during the transitional post-death state described in the Preta Kanda.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

It emphasizes doing śrāddha with disciplined simplicity—clear intention, correct offerings, and avoidance of unnecessary ritual complexity—while following one’s family or regional śrāddha tradition.