Shloka 90

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

Devanagari script

नवकं षोडशश्राद्धं शय्या सांवत्सरं तथा / भर्तुर्या कुरुते नारी तस्याः श्रेयो ह्यनन्तकम्

Transliteration

navakaṃ ṣoḍaśaśrāddhaṃ śayyā sāṃvatsaraṃ tathā / bharturyā kurute nārī tasyāḥ śreyo hyanantakam

Translation

Seorang wanita yang melaksanakan untuk suaminya upacara sembilan hari, enam belas śrāddha, persembahan katil jenazah, serta śrāddha tahunan—baginya kesejahteraan dan pahala rohani yang tiada bertepi.

Word by Word

• navakam: the nine-day rite (navaka)
• navakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: navaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; karma (object)

• ṣoḍaśa-śrāddham: the sixteen (types of) śrāddha
• ṣoḍaśa-śrāddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣoḍaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; dvigu-samāsa (numeral compound)

• śayyā: a bed
• śayyā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; karma

• sāṃvatsaram: annual/for a year
• sāṃvatsaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāṃvatsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa (qualifier) of śayyā-dāna/śayyā (annual/for a year)

• tathā: and also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction/adverb = 'also/likewise'

• bhartuḥ: of (her) husband
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; sambandha (genitive)

• yā: who (she)
• yā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• kurute: does/performs
• kurute: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• nārī: a woman
• nārī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; apposition to yā

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; genitive of possession

• śreyaḥ: welfare/merit
• śreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; predicate nominative

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta (emphatic/causal particle)

• anantakam: endless
• anantakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anantaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā/ Dvitīyā Ekavacana; here as predicate adjective agreeing with śreyaḥ (sense: 'endless')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Navaka (nine-day sequence), Ṣoḍaśa-śrāddha (sixteen śrāddhas), Saṃvatsarika (annual)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A wife who performs navaka rites, ṣoḍaśa-śrāddha, śayyā-dāna, and annual śrāddha for her husband gains inexhaustible śreyas and benefits him.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as yajña-like service; merit-transfer framework within smṛti-purāṇic ritualism supporting social-spiritual order.

Application: Follow the prescribed post-death sequence (early-day rites, sixteen śrāddhas, annual observance) with sincerity; seek competent guidance for correct performance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/śrāddha setting (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.88 (śayyā-dāna fruit); Garuda Purana 2.34.91 (injunction for the wife to live and uplift); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa śrāddha-krama sections (navaka/ṣoḍaśa/saṃvatsara)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of navaka and ṣoḍaśa-śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that completing the nine-day rites (navaka) and the sixteen śrāddhas for a departed husband is a highly meritorious duty, producing immeasurable spiritual welfare for the performer.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, such śrāddha rites are described as supportive acts for the departed’s post-death condition (preta-state) and as dharmic obligations that generate merit for the family, especially the one who performs them.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages faithful performance of prescribed memorial rites (as per one’s tradition and guidance of qualified priests) and emphasizes devotion, responsibility, and dharma toward departed family members.