Shloka 24
Pitṛ-tīrtha Context: Marks of Sin, Śrāddha Discipline, and Karmic Ripening
in Yayāti’s Narrative
अमावास्यां तथा राजन्क्षयाहे परपक्षके । श्राद्धमेवं प्रकर्तव्यं ब्राह्मणादि त्रिवर्णकैः
amāvāsyāṃ tathā rājankṣayāhe parapakṣake | śrāddhamevaṃ prakartavyaṃ brāhmaṇādi trivarṇakaiḥ
Wahai Raja, pada hari Amāvasyā (bulan baharu) dan juga pada hari kṣayāha (hari ulang tahun wafat) dalam paruh kemudian, upacara Śrāddha hendaklah dilaksanakan menurut cara ini oleh tiga golongan dvija, bermula dengan para Brāhmaṇa.
Unspecified narrator/teacher addressing a king (rājan)
Concept: Śrāddha is to be performed on Amāvāsyā and on the death-anniversary (kṣayāha) in the later fortnight; it is a duty of the twice-born varṇas.
Application: Keep a calendar for remembrance rites; perform them according to capacity with sincerity, feeding the needy and offering water/tila in memory of ancestors.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On a moonless Amāvāsyā night, a king oversees a śrāddha arrangement: sesame, rice-balls, and water offerings laid on kuśa grass while brāhmaṇas sit in a respectful row. The atmosphere is quiet and ancestral—faint silhouettes of pitṛs appear like mist above the offerings, suggesting the unseen recipients of remembrance.","primary_figures":["a king (rājan)","brāhmaṇas (three twice-born classes implied)","pitṛs (subtle, ethereal)","a ritual teacher/narrator"],"setting":"Courtyard with a small altar, banyan or peepal tree nearby, ritual vessels and plates arranged; night sky without moon.","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["indigo black","sesame brown","rice white","bronze gold","smoky silver"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Amāvāsyā śrāddha scene with a king offering tila and water; brāhmaṇas seated receiving honor; pitṛs shown as faint golden silhouettes above; heavy gold leaf halos and borders, rich maroon and emerald textiles, ornate pillars framing the ritual courtyard.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a serene night courtyard under a moonless indigo sky; delicate depiction of kuśa mats, sesame bowls, and piṇḍas; brāhmaṇas in white; the king in subdued royal attire; misty ancestral forms in the background, refined facial features and gentle naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized śrāddha implements in clear bands; king and brāhmaṇas with bold outlines; upper register shows pitṛs as pale figures; warm reds/yellows contrasted with deep black-blue background, temple-wall aesthetic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical śrāddha tableau framed by lotus and floral borders; rows of seated brāhmaṇas, central offering plates with piṇḍas and tila; deep blue-black ground with gold detailing; peacocks and vines in margins, devotional textile richness."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft water pouring","low bell chime","night breeze","distant owl","quiet mantra undertone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजन्क्षयाहे → राजन् + क्षयाहे; श्राद्धमेवं → श्राद्धम् + एवम्
FAQs
It specifies the new-moon day (amāvāsyā) and the death-anniversary day (kṣayāha), particularly when it falls in the later/dark fortnight (parapakṣa).
The verse states it is to be performed by the three varṇas beginning with Brāhmaṇas—i.e., Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, and Vaiśya (the “trivarṇa”).
It emphasizes dharma through ancestral responsibility: observing prescribed times for rites that express gratitude and continuity of family and tradition.