Shloka 9

The Explanation of the Post-funeral Rites (Aurdhvadehika) and Related Matters

Devanagari script

यजमानो भवेदेको दश पृर्त्वे दशावरे / इत्येते पितरो ज्ञेया एकविंशति संख्यकाः

Transliteration

yajamāno bhavedeko daśa pṛrtve daśāvare / ityete pitaro jñeyā ekaviṃśati saṃkhyakāḥ

Translation

Yajamāna, iaitu pelaksana korban, adalah seorang; sepuluh di sisi dunia ini dan sepuluh di sisi yang lebih tinggi. Demikianlah mereka dikenali sebagai para Pitṛ, berjumlah dua puluh satu semuanya.

Word by Word

• यजमानः: the sacrificer/performer (of rite)
• यजमानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एकः: one
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Sankhya (संख्या/Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; (here) प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनार्थे (ten)

• पृर्त्वे: in the earlier/preceding position (textual reading uncertain)
• पृर्त्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृर्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-रूप (context: ‘पार्श्वे/पूर्वे’ इत्यर्थे सम्भाव्य)

• दश: ten
• दश: Sankhya (संख्या/Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या; ten

• अवरे: in the later/lower position
• अवरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘अवरे’ = ‘पश्चात्/अधः’

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पितरः: the Pitṛs (manes)
• पितरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ज्ञेयाः: are to be known
• ज्ञेयाः: Vidhi (विधि/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘ज्ञेयाः’ = ‘ज्ञातव्याः’

• एकविंशति: twenty-one
• एकविंशति: Sankhya (संख्या/Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकविंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या; (एक + विंशति) योगरूप; अव्ययवत् (twenty-one)

• संख्यकाः: numbering (so many)
• संख्यकाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संख्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During pitṛ enumeration/saṅkalpa within śrāddha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha is relational: the yajamāna stands as the living node connecting two sets of pitṛs across levels, totaling twenty-one.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence (saṃbandha) and continuity of dharma across generations; the living self as a steward of inherited obligations (ṛṇa).

Application: When reciting saṅkalpa or listing pitṛs, maintain the prescribed count/order; treat the performer’s role as central responsibility rather than mere formality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-cosmological mapping (earthly and higher planes)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha enumeration passages around 2.35.7–11

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Yajamana

FAQs

What is the importance of the Pitṛs (ancestors) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights a formal enumeration of the Pitṛ group connected with rites: knowing their count and placement supports correct śrāddha intent—honoring ancestors through properly directed offerings.

How does this verse relate to death rituals like śrāddha or piṇḍa-dāna?

By defining the yajamāna as the central performer and identifying the Pitṛs as a structured group (ten here, ten there, plus the yajamāna), it frames śrāddha as a precise ritual relationship between the living performer and ancestral recipients.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with clarity of purpose: be mindful that the yajamāna’s sincerity and correct intention are central, and treat śrāddha as a disciplined act of gratitude and duty toward one’s lineage.