Shloka 18
Śrāddha Vidhi (Pārvaṇa-Śrāddha): Invitations, Arghya, Protective Rites, Piṇḍa Offering, Dakṣiṇā, and Visarjana
ततो विपरीतोपवीतेन सव्यञ्जनं सघृतमन्नं पित्रादि ब्राह्मणपात्रे निधाय तदुपरि भूमिसंलग्नकुशं दत्त्वा ॐ पृथिवी ते पात्रं इति मन्त्रेण उत्तानाभ्यां पात्रं गृहीत्वा ॐ इदं विष्णोरित्यन्नोपरि उत्तानं द्विजाङ्गुष्ठं निवेशयेत् / ॐ अपहतेति तिलविकिरणम् / भूमिपातितवामजानुः अमुकगोत्रेभ्यः अस्मत्पितृपितामहेभ्यः सपत्नीकेभ्यः एतदन्नं सघृतं सपानीयं सव्यञ्जनं प्रतिषिद्धवर्जितं स्वधा / अन्नं सङ्कल्प्य ॐ ऊर्जं वहन्तीरमृतं घृत पयः कीलालं परिस्त्रुतं स्वधास्तु तर्पयत मे पितरम् / दक्षिणामुखवरिधारत्यागः
tato viparītopavītena savyañjanaṃ saghṛtamannaṃ pitrādi brāhmaṇapātre nidhāya tadupari bhūmisaṃlagnakuśaṃ dattvā oṃ pṛthivī te pātraṃ iti mantreṇa uttānābhyāṃ pātraṃ gṛhītvā oṃ idaṃ viṣṇorityannopari uttānaṃ dvijāṅguṣṭhaṃ niveśayet / oṃ apahateti tilavikiraṇam / bhūmipātitavāmajānuḥ amukagotrebhyaḥ asmatpitṛpitāmahebhyaḥ sapatnīkebhyaḥ etadannaṃ saghṛtaṃ sapānīyaṃ savyañjanaṃ pratiṣiddhavarjitaṃ svadhā / annaṃ saṅkalpya oṃ ūrjaṃ vahantīramṛtaṃ ghṛta payaḥ kīlālaṃ paristrutaṃ svadhāstu tarpayata me pitaram / dakṣiṇāmukhavaridhāratyāgaḥ
Então, usando o cordão sagrado de maneira inversa (para os Pitṛs), deve-se colocar no vaso de um brâmane comida com acompanhamentos, misturada com ghee. Sobre ela deve-se colocar erva kuśa cuja ponta toque o chão. Pegando no vaso com ambas as mãos viradas para cima, com o mantra “Oṃ, a Terra é o teu vaso”, deve-se colocar o polegar do brâmane (virado para cima) sobre a comida, dizendo “Oṃ, isto pertence a Viṣṇu”. Com “Oṃ apahata...” deve-se espalhar sementes de sésamo. Ajoelhando-se com o joelho esquerdo no chão, deve-se declarar: “Para os antepassados de tal e tal gotra... svadhā”. Então deve-se derramar o fluxo de água virado para o sul.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Ritual Type: Parvana
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Main pitṛ offering and tarpaṇa phase within śrāddha; includes dakṣiṇāmukha varidhārā
Concept: Pitṛyajña requires correct orientation, purity, and explicit dedication; nourishment (ūrj) offered with svadhā sustains ancestral well-being and the moral fabric of family life.
Vedantic Theme: Gratitude and continuity within saṃsāra as a purifier of the heart; offering ‘idaṃ viṣṇoḥ’ frames action as non-possessive, reducing ahaṅkāra.
Application: In śrāddha, maintain correct upavīta (viparīta for pitṛs), use kuśa and tila for purity, state gotra and beneficiaries clearly, avoid prohibited foods, and perform dakṣiṇāmukha water offering with focused remembrance.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: domestic/ritual altar space oriented to dakṣiṇa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-kalpa: viparīta-upavīta for pitṛs; tila-vikīraṇa with ‘apahata’; ‘idaṃ viṣṇoḥ’ dedication; tarpaṇa mantras with ‘ūrjaṃ vahantīḥ… svadhāstu’
FAQs
This verse prescribes viparīta-upavīta specifically for Pitṛ-kārya, marking the rite as directed to ancestors (svadhā) rather than to deities (svāhā), and aligning posture, mantras, and orientation with Pitṛ traditions.
The formula dedicates the offering to Viṣṇu, sacralizing the food before it is assigned to the Pitṛs; the thumb placement functions as a ritual seal while the offering is mentally and verbally consecrated.
It highlights core elements to preserve: purity of items (avoid prohibited foods), clear saṅkalpa naming the intended ancestors, use of sesame and kuśa, and the south-facing water release—performed with reverence and accuracy to intention.