Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 24

Pitṛ-tīrtha Context: Marks of Sin, Śrāddha Discipline, and Karmic Ripening

in Yayāti’s Narrative

Devanagari script

अमावास्यां तथा राजन्क्षयाहे परपक्षके । श्राद्धमेवं प्रकर्तव्यं ब्राह्मणादि त्रिवर्णकैः

Transliteration

amāvāsyāṃ tathā rājankṣayāhe parapakṣake | śrāddhamevaṃ prakartavyaṃ brāhmaṇādi trivarṇakaiḥ

Translation

О царь, в день амавасьи (новолуния) и также, о владыка, в день годовщины смерти в тёмную половину месяца, Шраддха должна совершаться таким образом тремя дважды-рождёнными сословиями, начиная с брахманов.

Word by Word

• अमावास्यायाम्: on the new-moon day
• अमावास्यायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमावास्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine/स्त्री), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन)

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे (adverb/conjunctive: 'also/likewise')

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/पुं), सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन)

• क्षयाहे: on the day of (lunar) waning/decline
• क्षयाहे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षयाह (प्रातिपदिक: क्षय + अहन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/पुं), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive Tatpuruṣa: 'क्षयस्य अहः' = day of waning/decay)

• परपक्षके: in the dark fortnight
• परपक्षके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परपक्षक (प्रातिपदिक: पर + पक्षक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/पुं), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन); तत्पुरुष (Determinative: 'परः पक्षः' = other/second fortnight, i.e., dark fortnight)

• श्राद्धम्: Śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुं), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन)

• एवम्: thus; in this manner
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), प्रकारार्थे (adverb: 'thus/in this manner')

• प्रकर्तव्यम्: should be performed
• प्रकर्तव्यम्: विधेय/भाव (Predicative obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त, तव्यत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (Verbal adjective), तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुं), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन); विधेय (predicate: 'should be done')

• ब्राह्मणादि: beginning with brāhmaṇas
• ब्राह्मणादि: करण (Karaṇa/Instrumental sense via apposition to agent-group)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मणादि (प्रातिपदिक: ब्राह्मण + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुं), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन); तत्पुरुष (Determinative: 'ब्राह्मणः आदि यस्य' / 'beginning with brāhmaṇas')

• त्रिवर्णकैः: by the three varṇas
• त्रिवर्णकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument: 'by')
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिवर्णक (प्रातिपदिक: त्रि + वर्णक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/पुं), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural/बहुवचन); द्विगु-समास (Numerical compound: 'त्रयः वर्णाः' = three varṇas)

Speaker

Unspecified narrator/teacher addressing a king (rājan)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजन्क्षयाहे → राजन् + क्षयाहे; श्राद्धमेवं → श्राद्धम् + एवम्

FAQs

When does this verse recommend performing Śrāddha?

It specifies the new-moon day (amāvāsyā) and the death-anniversary day (kṣayāha), particularly when it falls in the later/dark fortnight (parapakṣa).

Who is instructed to perform the Śrāddha according to this verse?

The verse states it is to be performed by the three varṇas beginning with Brāhmaṇas—i.e., Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, and Vaiśya (the “trivarṇa”).

What is the ethical or religious emphasis of this instruction?

It emphasizes dharma through ancestral responsibility: observing prescribed times for rites that express gratitude and continuity of family and tradition.