Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

वस्त्राद्याः प्रीणयन्त्येव नरं श्राद्धकृतं द्विजाः / आयुः प्रजा धनं विद्यां स्वर्गमोक्षसुखानि च

Transliteration

vastrādyāḥ prīṇayantyeva naraṃ śrāddhakṛtaṃ dvijāḥ / āyuḥ prajā dhanaṃ vidyāṃ svargamokṣasukhāni ca

Translation

శ్రాద్ధంలో వస్త్రాది దానములతో సంతుష్టులైన ద్విజులు, శ్రాద్ధకర్తకు దీర్ఘాయువు, సంతానం, ధనం, విద్య, అలాగే స్వర్గమోక్ష సుఖములను ప్రసాదించుదురు।

Word by Word

• वस्त्राद्याः: garments and the like (items)
• वस्त्राद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वस्त्रादयः)

• प्रीणयन्ति: please, satisfy
• प्रीणयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रीण् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• एव: indeed, certainly
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• नरम्: a man
• नरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• श्राद्धकृतम्: one who has performed śrāddha
• श्राद्धकृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्राद्ध + कृत (कृदन्त; कृ (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘कृत’; समासः—तत्पुरुष (श्राद्धं कृतवान्)

• द्विजाः: Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

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

• प्रजाः: offspring, progeny
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (प्रजाम् इति अपेक्षितम्; पाठभेद/छन्दोऽनुसारं प्रजाः)

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• विद्याम्: knowledge
• विद्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• स्वर्गमोक्षसुखानि: heaven, liberation, and pleasures
• स्वर्गमोक्षसुखानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + मोक्ष + सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (स्वर्गः च मोक्षः च सुखानि च)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna in śrāddha gratifies brāhmaṇas; their blessings and the rite’s merit yield both worldly and transcendent fruits.

Vedantic Theme: Gradation of goals: artha/kāma (wealth, progeny) to svarga and finally mokṣa—suggesting dharma as ladder toward liberation.

Application: Give respectfully (vastra, etc.) to worthy recipients; conduct rites with humility; orient merit toward higher welfare, not only gain.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: domestic ritual space (gṛha/śrāddha-maṇḍapa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99.42-43 (phala list); Garuda Purana 1.99.45 (pitāmaha grace motif)

Characters & Entities

• Dwijas (Brahmins)
• Shraddha

FAQs

What is the importance of giving gifts like clothes in Śrāddha according to the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that gifts such as clothing (vastra) offered in Śrāddha gratify the Brahmins, and that satisfaction becomes a channel for blessings—longevity, progeny, wealth, learning, and spiritual attainments.

How does this verse connect Śrāddha to svarga and mokṣa?

It presents Śrāddha as a dharmic act whose merit (puṇya), when performed with proper offerings and respectful giving, can yield both worldly results and higher fruits—heavenly happiness and even liberation.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Perform ancestor rites with sincerity, include appropriate charity (such as clothing/essentials) and respectful hospitality, and treat giving as a disciplined dharmic practice rather than a mere formality.