Shloka 10

Sapindīkaraṇa: Timing, Eligibility, Gotra Rules, and Yearlong Śrāddha

with Vṛṣotsarga and Ghaṭa-dāna

Devanagari script

त्रिपक्षे वापि षण्मासे मेलयेत्प्रपितामहैः / ज्ञात्वा वृद्धिविवाहादि स्वगोत्रविहितानि च

Transliteration

tripakṣe vāpi ṣaṇmāse melayetprapitāmahaiḥ / jñātvā vṛddhivivāhādi svagotravihitāni ca

Translation

ਤਿੰਨ ਪੱਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਅੰਤਰ ਤੇ ਜਾਂ ਛੇ ਮਹੀਨੇ ਬਾਅਦ, ਪ੍ਰਪਿਤਾਮਹਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਮਿਲਾ ਕੇ ਸ਼ਰਾਧ ਆਦਿ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ। ਵੰਸ਼-ਵਾਧਾ, ਵਿਆਹ ਆਦਿ ਮੌਕੇ ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਗੋਤ੍ਰ ਦੇ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਜਾਣ ਕੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਰੇ।

Word by Word

• tripakṣe: in three fortnights
• tripakṣe: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रयः पक्षाः)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha/Avyaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha/Avyaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also/even)

• ṣaṇmāse: in six months
• ṣaṇmāse: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (षण्मासः)

• melayet: should unite/merge
• melayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mil/मिल् (धातु) [causative: मेलयति]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रेरणार्थ (causative)

• prapitāmahaiḥ: with the great-grandfathers
• prapitāmahaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prapitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• jñātvā: having known/considered
• jñātvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √jñā (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: अव्ययभावे कृदन्त; क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund)

• vṛddhi: increase/prosperity
• vṛddhi: Samasa-anga (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासपूर्वपद (increase/prosperity)

• vivāha: marriage
• vivāha: Samasa-anga (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vivāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासपूर्वपद (marriage)

• ādi: and the like
• ādi: Sambandha/Avyaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘आदि’ = etc./and so on (समाहारसूचक)

• svagotra: one's own lineage/clan
• svagotra: Samasa-anga (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + gotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासपूर्वपद; तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य गोत्रम्)

• vihitāni: prescribed/ordained
• vihitāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vihita (कृदन्त; vi + √dhā/धा, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘(कर्माणि) विहितानि’ = prescribed

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Avyaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After three fortnights (trīpakṣa) or after six months (ṣaṇmāsa), adjusted for lineage rules and family occasions (birth/marriage).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sapīṇḍīkaraṇa/ancestral conjunction may be done after three fortnights or six months, considering family events (birth, marriage) and one’s gotra rules.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma is contextual (deśa-kāla-kula); right action depends on time, circumstance, and lineage injunctions.

Application: Consult gotra/śākhā tradition and a competent priest to schedule sapīṇḍīkaraṇa/related śrāddha, especially around births/marriages and other kula-occasions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.26 on timing variants for sapīṇḍīkaraṇa and constraints around auspicious rites

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Prapitamahas
• Gotra

FAQs

What is the importance of timing (tripaksha or six months) for Śrāddha in Garuda Purana?

This verse indicates that Śrāddha may be scheduled at specific intervals—three fortnights or six months—so ancestral rites are performed in an orderly, dharmic rhythm rather than randomly.

How does this verse explain the role of ancestors in ritual practice?

It emphasizes performing rites while including the prapitāmahas (great-grandfathers), reflecting the Garuda Purana practice of honoring multiple generations of Pitṛs together.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If observing Śrāddha, align it with family dharma: consider major life-events like birth or marriage and follow your gotra/tradition’s prescribed method rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all ritual.