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Shloka 16

Śrāddha Vidhi (Pārvaṇa-Śrāddha): Invitations, Arghya, Protective Rites, Piṇḍa Offering, Dakṣiṇā, and Visarjana

Devanagari script

अपहतेति त्रिर्यवविकिरणम् / ॐ निहन्मि सर्वं यदमेध्यवद्भवेद्धताश्च सर्वे ऽसुरदानवा मया / रक्षांसि यक्षाः सपिशाचसङ्घा हता मया यातुधानाश्च सर्वे इति सिद्धार्थविकिरणम्

Transliteration

apahateti triryavavikiraṇam / oṃ nihanmi sarvaṃ yadamedhyavadbhaveddhatāśca sarve 'suradānavā mayā / rakṣāṃsi yakṣāḥ sapiśācasaṅghā hatā mayā yātudhānāśca sarve iti siddhārthavikiraṇam

Translation

‘అపహతా’ అని మూడుసార్లు యవలను చల్లవలెను. తరువాత తెల్ల ఆవాలు చల్లుతూ: 'ఓం, అపవిత్రమైనదానిని నేను నాశనము చేయుచున్నాను; నా చేత అసురులు మరియు దానవులు అందరూ నశించిరి. రాక్షసులు, యక్షులు, పిశాచ సమూహములు మరియు యాతుధానులు అందరూ నా చేత హతులైరి' అని పఠించవలెను.

Word by Word

apahatāDestroyed/Removed

itiThus

triḥThrice

yavavikiraṇamScattering of barley

nihanmiI kill/destroy

sarvamAll

yatWhich

amedhyavatImpure

bhavetMay be

hatāḥKilled

asuradānavāḥAsuras and Danavas

mayāBy me

rakṣāṃsiRakshasas

yakṣāḥYakshas

sapiśācasaṅghāḥWith groups of Pisachas

yātudhānāḥSorcerers/Demons

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Rakṣā/śuddhi step before/around anna and piṇḍa offerings

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual purity includes active removal of obstacles (doṣa, bhūta-bādha) so that sacred acts are not disrupted.

Vedantic Theme: Adhyāropa-apavāda in practice: first remove impediments in the field of action; then higher offerings proceed undisturbed.

Application: Before śrāddha or any sacred feeding, perform protective cleansing: sweep, sprinkle, and symbolically repel negativity; maintain mental firmness and ethical purity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: protective boundary (rakṣā-maṇḍala) created by scattering grains

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha prayoga: ‘apahata’ repetitions; siddhārtha (white mustard) scattering as rakṣā-kriyā

Characters & Entities

Asuras

Dānavas

Rākṣasas

Yakṣas

Piśācas

Yātudhānas

FAQs

What is the importance of barley and mustard scattering in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes yava-vikiraṇa (barley scattering) and siddhārtha-vikiraṇa (mustard scattering) as protective purification acts to repel impurity and hostile influences, establishing ritual cleanliness and safety.

How does this verse relate to purification and unseen obstacles?

The mantra explicitly targets categories of harmful beings (asuras, rākṣasas, piśācas, etc.), showing that purification is not only physical but also subtle—meant to remove unseen disturbances that are treated as forms of “amedhya” (ritual impurity).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the principle of deliberate purification before sacred acts—maintain cleanliness, set a protective intention, and begin rituals with focused recitation and orderly procedures, especially during rites for the departed or at times of vulnerability.