Shloka 122
Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules
अपुत्रायां मृतायां तु पतिः कुर्यात् सपिण्डनम् / मात्रादितिसृभिः सार्धमेवं धर्मेण योजयेत्
aputrāyāṃ mṛtāyāṃ tu patiḥ kuryāt sapiṇḍanam / mātrāditisṛbhiḥ sārdhamevaṃ dharmeṇa yojayet
Jika seorang isteri meninggal tanpa meninggalkan anak lelaki, maka suaminya hendaklah melakukan sapiṇḍīkaraṇa untuknya, serta—menurut dharma—menghubungkannya bersama tiga ‘ibu’ leluhur dalam garis keturunan sebelah ibu, bermula dengan ibu.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)
Ritual Type: Sapindana
Beneficiary: Patni (wife) to be joined among pitṛ relations via maternal triad
Timing: At the wife’s sapiṇḍīkaraṇa when no son exists (exceptional kartṛ rule)
Concept: In absence of a son, the husband bears the duty to perform sapiṇḍīkaraṇa for the wife, joining her appropriately within the maternal ancestral triad, preserving her posthumous ritual status.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma as compassionate continuity; agency (kartṛtva) and obligation persist beyond death to support the jīva’s orderly passage via rites.
Application: If a wife dies without a son, the husband should perform her sapiṇḍīkaraṇa and connect her with the three maternal ancestors (as defined by the tradition) to ensure proper pitṛ affiliation.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: gṛha/śrāddha-sthāna (implied)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.118 on ekoddiṣṭa responsibility; 2.34.121 on grouping rules for sapiṇḍīkaraṇa
FAQs
This verse presents sapiṇḍīkaraṇa as the dharmic act of formally affiliating the departed with the ancestral pinda-line (Pitṛs), ensuring proper ritual incorporation even when the deceased leaves no son.
In the Preta Kanda framework, correct śrāddha and sapiṇḍīkaraṇa support the preta’s transition toward Pitṛ-status; here it specifies that the husband bears responsibility for completing that affiliation for a wife who died sonless.
It emphasizes continuity of funeral duties: if traditional family support (like a son) is absent, the closest dharmically responsible relation—in this case the husband—should ensure the prescribed rites are completed with proper guidance.