Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

अश्वानायुश्च विधिवद्यः श्राद्धं संप्रयच्छति / कृत्तिकादिभरण्यन्तं स कामान्प्राप्नुयादिमान्

Transliteration

aśvānāyuśca vidhivadyaḥ śrāddhaṃ saṃprayacchati / kṛttikādibharaṇyantaṃ sa kāmānprāpnuyādimān

Translation

విధివిధానంగా శ్రాద్ధాన్ని సమర్పించువాడు అశ్వములు మరియు దీర్ఘాయుష్షును పొందును; కృత్తిక నుండి భరణీ వరకు (నక్షత్రక్రమంలో) ఈ కోరిన భోగములను పొందును।

Word by Word

• अश्वान्: horses
• अश्वान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• आयुः: long life
• आयुः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; अत्र फलरूपेण (कर्मवत्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• विधिवत्: according to proper rite
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: according to rule)

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• संप्रयच्छति: offers, gives properly
• संप्रयच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + यम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः—सम् + प्र

• कृत्तिकादि-भरण्यन्तम्: from Kṛttikā onward up to Bharaṇī (i.e., spanning that range)
• कृत्तिकादि-भरण्यन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्तिका + आदि + भरणी + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कृत्तिकादि-आरभ्य भरण्यन्तम्)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• कामान्: desired objects, wishes
• कामान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• प्राप्नुयात्: would obtain
• प्राप्नुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः—प्र

• इमान्: these
• इमान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (कामान्)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue instructing Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Nakṣatra-based timing indicated: from Kṛttikā up to Bharaṇī (as stated).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Properly performed śrāddha (karma) yields specific tangible fruits (āyuḥ, aśva, kāma).

Vedantic Theme: Ritual causality (karma-kāṇḍa) operating within saṃsāra; time (kāla) as a conduit of karma-phala.

Application: Observe ritual procedure and calendrical appropriateness; treat śrāddha as disciplined duty rather than mere transaction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: lunar mansion cycle (astral timing)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99.42, 1.99.44-45 (phala and pitṛ-grace sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Nakṣatras (Kṛttikā, Bharaṇī)

FAQs

What is the importance of Śrāddha in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents Śrāddha as a dharmic act that yields tangible auspicious results—such as longevity and prosperity—when performed strictly according to prescribed procedure (vidhivat).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly: by stressing Śrāddha as a required ancestral rite, it supports the broader Garuḍa Purāṇa theme that proper post-death observances aid the departed and uphold pitṛ-related obligations, which in turn benefits the living performer.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with sincerity and correct procedure—ideally under qualified guidance—treating them as duties of gratitude (ṛṇa) rather than mere transactions for rewards.