Shloka 11

Determining Rites for Difficult/Inauspicious Deaths; Annual and Daily Śrāddha Rules

एककाले गता सूनां बहूनामथ वा द्वयोः / तन्त्रेण श्रपणं कुर्याच्छ्राद्धं कुर्यात् पृथक्पृथक्

ekakāle gatā sūnāṃ bahūnāmatha vā dvayoḥ / tantreṇa śrapaṇaṃ kuryācchrāddhaṃ kuryāt pṛthakpṛthak

Jika pada satu masa ramai kerabat dalam keturunan—atau walaupun hanya dua orang—telah meninggal, maka masakan ritual boleh dimasak dengan satu tatacara bersama; namun persembahan śrāddha hendaklah dilakukan berasingan bagi setiap seorang.

एककालेat one time
एककाले:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootएक-काल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘एककाले’ = at one time
गताःhaving died/departed
गताः:
कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootगम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘गता’ = deceased/ departed (agreeing with understood ‘सूनाः/स्त्रियः’ etc.)
सूनाम्of the mothers/daughters-in-law (sūnāḥ)
सूनाम्:
सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootसूना (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन
बहूनाम्of many
बहूनाम्:
विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘many’ (qualifying sūnām)
अथor/then
अथ:
सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ (अव्यय)
Formअनन्तर/विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (then/now)
वाor
वा:
सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)
द्वयोःof two
द्वयोः:
सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootद्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, द्विवचन
तन्त्रेणby one procedure/system
तन्त्रेण:
करण (Karaṇa/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootतन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/विधि-अर्थे
श्रपणम्cooking/boiling (of the offering)
श्रपणम्:
कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootश्रप् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त)
Formकृदन्त-नाम (ल्युट्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
कुर्यात्should do
कुर्यात्:
क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
श्राद्धम्śrāddha
श्राद्धम्:
कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootश्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
कुर्यात्should perform
कुर्यात्:
क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
पृथक्separately
पृथक्:
क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपृथक् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (adverb), भेदार्थे
पृथक्each separately
पृथक्:
क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपृथक् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (reduplication for emphasis)

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: When multiple deaths coincide (same time period), coordinate preparation but keep offerings distinct.

Concept: When multiple relatives die at the same time, cooking may be done in one common procedure, but śrāddha offerings must be made separately—efficiency in means, distinctness in intention.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅkalpa-bheda (distinct intention) matters in karma; inner differentiation can coexist with outer economy.

Application: If several śrāddhas coincide, prepare food once to reduce burden, but perform separate saṅkalpa, separate pindas/tarpaṇa and naming for each departed.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Type: gṛhya-śrāddha kitchen/altar (pāka + offering area)

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-vidhi on saṅkalpa and beneficiary specification; 2.45.7 on ekoddiṣṭa specificity; 2.45.9 on timing rules

P
Pitris

FAQs

This verse states that even if cooking is done under one common arrangement, the śrāddha must be offered individually so each departed person receives a distinct rite and dedicated offering.

It allows combining the preparation (cooking) under one procedure, but it does not merge the śrāddha itself; the offerings and intention are to be done pṛthak-pṛthak—separately for each deceased.

When families face closely timed bereavements, keep the ritual logistics efficient (one cooking setup) while maintaining clear, separate sankalpa and offerings for each departed person, following local śrāddha tradition and priestly guidance.