Shloka 24

Śrāddha Vidhi: Kāla (Timing), Pātra (Recipient), and Karma (Procedure) for Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and Piṇḍa

Devanagari script

स्वस्ति वाच्यं ततो दद्यादक्षय्योदकमेव च / दत्त्वा च दक्षिणां शक्त्या स्वधाकारमुदाहरेत्

Transliteration

svasti vācyaṃ tato dadyādakṣayyodakameva ca / dattvā ca dakṣiṇāṃ śaktyā svadhākāramudāharet

Translation

తర్వాత స్వస్తివచనం పలికి అక్షయ్యోదకాన్ని అర్పించాలి. శక్తి మేరకు దక్షిణ ఇచ్చి ‘స్వధా’ మంత్రోచ్ఛారణ చేయాలి.

Word by Word

• svasti: well-being; ‘svasti’
• svasti: Kriya-vishaya (Utterance content)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svasti (अव्यय)
• Form: मङ्गलार्थक-अव्यय/निपात (benedictive particle)

• vācyaṃ: should be spoken
• vācyaṃ: Kriya (Prescribed act)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/passive necessity), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘to be uttered’

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालबोधक-अव्यय (adverb: then/thereafter)

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• akṣayya-udakam: imperishable water (akṣayyodaka)
• akṣayya-udakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣayya + udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (akṣayyaṃ udakam)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dakṣiṇām: fee/gift (dakṣiṇā)
• dakṣiṇām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• śaktyā: with (one’s) capacity
• śaktyā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘according to ability’

• svadhā-kāram: the utterance ‘svadhā’
• svadhā-kāram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svadhā + kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (svadhā-śabdasya kāraḥ)

• udāharet: should utter/recite
• udāharet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After piṇḍa-related steps and before final confirmations/visarjana elements

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious speech, akṣayya-udaka, proportionate dakṣiṇā, and svadhā-mantra complete the efficacy of śrāddha.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda (mantra) and dāna as purifiers; niṣkāma generosity supports sattva and prepares for bhakti/jñāna.

Application: Include svasti-vācana, offer akṣayya-udaka with intent of lasting benefit, give dakṣiṇā within means, and pronounce svadhā correctly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99.25: svadhā utterance and response; 1.99.26: viśvedevas tarpaṇa and blessings

FAQs

What is the importance of akṣayya-udaka in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places akṣayya-udaka as a key offering after auspicious recitation, indicating a water-offering intended to yield enduring merit in Pitṛ-related rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the post-death framework by prescribing Pitṛ-rites (svadhā and offerings), which are traditionally understood to aid the departed through proper ritual support and merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with correct sequence—auspicious invocation, sincere offering (water), and fair dakṣiṇā according to means—emphasizing intention and dharmic responsibility.