Shloka 111

Genealogy of the Ancestors (Pitṛs) and the Procedure of Śrāddha

Devanagari script

स्वधावाचनकं सर्वं पिंडोपरि समाचरेत् । देवाद्यंतं प्रकुर्वीत श्राद्धनाशोन्यथा भवेत्

Transliteration

svadhāvācanakaṃ sarvaṃ piṃḍopari samācaret | devādyaṃtaṃ prakurvīta śrāddhanāśonyathā bhavet

Translation

ਪਿੰਡ ਉੱਤੇ ਸਵਧਾ-ਵਾਚਨ ਦੀ ਪੂਰੀ ਪਾਠ-ਕ੍ਰਿਆ ਕਰੇ। ਦੇਵਤਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਆਰੰਭ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਅੰਤ ਤੱਕ ਕ੍ਰਮ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਕਰੇ; ਨਹੀਂ ਤਾਂ ਸ਼੍ਰਾਦ੍ਹ ਨਾਸ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• स्वधा-वाचनकम्: the svadhā recitation
• स्वधा-वाचनकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svadhā (प्रातिपदिक) + vācanaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘the svadhā-recitation (formula)’

• सर्वम्: entire/all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘svadhāvācanakam’)

• पिण्ड-उपरि: upon the piṇḍa
• पिण्ड-उपरि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + upari (उपरि अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः (adverbial compound): ‘upon the piṇḍa’ (locative sense)

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-car (सम्+आ√चर् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• देव-आदि-अन्तम्: from the gods at the start up to the end
• देव-आदि-अन्तम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः (adverbial): ‘from the beginning with the gods up to the end’ (range adverb)

• प्रकुर्वीत: should carry out
• प्रकुर्वीत: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-kṛ (प्र√कृ धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• श्राद्ध-नाशः: ruin of the śrāddha
• श्राद्ध-नाशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘destruction of śrāddha’

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (Condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अन्यथा)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘otherwise’

• भवेत्: would occur/be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Unspecified (narratorial/teaching voice within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वधावाचनकम् = स्वधा + वाचनकम्; पिंडोपरि = पिंड + उपरि (अव्ययीभाव); देवाद्यंतम् = देव + आदि + अन्तम्; श्राद्धनाशोन्यथा = श्राद्धनाशः + अन्यथा; भवेत् optative used for consequence (‘would be’).

FAQs

What is the practical instruction of this verse regarding śrāddha?

It instructs that the Svadhā recitations should be performed completely and specifically over the piṇḍa offering, following the prescribed sequence from the devas onward; otherwise the rite is considered invalid/spoiled.

Why does the verse stress performing the rite “from the gods to the end” (devādyantam)?

It emphasizes procedural order (krama) in ritual performance—offerings and recitations are to be done in a fixed sequence so the intended recipients and sanctifying steps are properly completed.

What ethical or spiritual lesson is implied here beyond ritual technique?

It highlights conscientiousness and fidelity to dharma: acts done for ancestors (pitṛ-kārya) should be performed with care, completeness, and respect, not casually or partially.