Shloka 121

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

Devanagari script

पितामह्या समं मातुः पितुः सहपितामहैः / सपिण्डीकरणं कार्यमिति तार्क्ष्य मतं मम

Transliteration

pitāmahyā samaṃ mātuḥ pituḥ sahapitāmahaiḥ / sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṃ kāryamiti tārkṣya mataṃ mama

Translation

Bersama nenek sebelah bapa, dan juga bersama ibu, bapa serta datuk-datuk sebelah bapa, hendaklah dilakukan upacara sapiṇḍīkaraṇa—demikianlah, wahai Tārkṣya (Garuda), pandanganku.

Word by Word

• पितामह्या: with the grandmother
• पितामह्या: सह/साधन (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• समम्: together/equally
• समम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे अव्ययवत् (adverbial ‘equally/together’)

• मातुः: of the mother
• मातुः: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पितुः: of the father
• पितुः: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सहपितामहैः: with the grandfathers
• सहपितामहैः: सह (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सह + पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः (सह + पितामहैः = ‘with grandfathers’)

• सपिण्डीकरणम्: sapiṇḍīkaraṇa (joining into the ancestral piṇḍa)
• सपिण्डीकरणम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपिण्डीकरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/necessity), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘कर्तव्यम्’

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Quotation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-निपात (quotative particle)

• तार्क्ष्य: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• तार्क्ष्य: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, एकवचन; (गरुड-नाम)

• मतम्: opinion/view
• मतम्: कर्म/विधेय (Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Tārkṣya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Preta being joined to the pitṛ group across specified relations

Timing: At sapiṇḍīkaraṇa performance (implied)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa should be performed with a defined grouping of ancestors (mother, father, paternal grandmother, paternal grandfathers), reflecting structured kinship cosmology.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence (saṃbandha) and continuity of obligations; dharma as harmonization of relational networks.

Application: When performing sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, include the specified elders together as per the stated grouping to ensure correct ancestral integration.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: śrāddha-sthāna (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.118-120 for ekoddiṣṭa and piṇḍa separation; 2.34.122 for special case of sonless wife

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tārkṣya)
• Pitris (ancestors)
• Mother (Mātṛ)
• Father (Pitṛ)
• Paternal grandparents (Pitāmaha/Pitāmahī)

FAQs

What is the importance of sapiṇḍīkaraṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that sapiṇḍīkaraṇa is a required rite that ritually joins the departed into the ancestral (Pitṛ) continuum through piṇḍa-offerings, and it should be done in connection with key ancestors such as parents and grandparents.

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

By emphasizing sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, the verse points to the post-death transition where the departed is integrated from the preta-condition into the Pitṛ lineage through prescribed rites, supporting the soul’s orderly passage within the ancestral framework described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows śrāddha traditions, this verse encourages performing the rites with proper inclusion of the ancestral line (parents and grandparents), ideally under guidance of a qualified priest, as an act of dharma and gratitude toward one’s Pitris.