Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

अवकीर्ण्याद यो ये च ये चाचारविवर्जिताः / अवैष्णवाश्च ते सर्वे न श्राद्धार्हाः कदाचन

Transliteration

avakīrṇyāda yo ye ca ye cācāravivarjitāḥ / avaiṣṇavāśca te sarve na śrāddhārhāḥ kadācana

Translation

అవకీర్ణ్యులు (పతితులు/అశుద్ధులు), సదాచారరహితులు, అలాగే అవైష్ణవులు—వారెవరూ శ్రాద్ధకర్మలో గ్రహీతలుగా ఎప్పటికీ అర్హులు కారు।

Word by Word

• अवकीर्ण्यात्: from (the state of) avakīrṇya (a grave impurity/offence)
• अवकीर्ण्यात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवकीर्ण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; अपादानार्थे (source/from)

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

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आचारविवर्जिताः: devoid of proper conduct
• आचारविवर्जिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आचार + विवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि√वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) विशेषण

• अवैष्णवाः: non-Vaiṣṇavas
• अवैष्णवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; निषेध-उपसर्गयुक्त

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; निर्देश (demonstrative)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• श्राद्धार्हाः: fit/eligible for śrāddha
• श्राद्धार्हाः: Predicate (Vidhaya/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्राद्ध + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: General śrāddha context; recipient-selection prior to offering

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pātratā (fitness of recipient) depends on śīla (conduct), purity, and Vaiṣṇava alignment.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-adhikāra and saṃskāra: ritual efficacy is conditioned by adhikārin and purity of means.

Application: Choose śrāddha recipients who are disciplined, of good conduct, and aligned with Viṣṇu-bhakti; avoid morally fallen or conductless invitees.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (gṛha/śrāddha-maṇḍapa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99 (śrāddha-pātra/vidhi context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Pitris (implicit via Śrāddha)

FAQs

What is the importance of choosing the right Śrāddha recipient in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that recipients lacking proper conduct, ritual-moral purity, or alignment with Vaiṣṇava dharma are not considered fit recipients; correct selection protects the intended sanctity and efficacy of Śrāddha.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on post-death rites?

It emphasizes that ritual results depend not only on the act of Śrāddha but also on dharmic standards—especially the qualifications of those who receive the offerings intended to aid ancestral and post-death obligations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform Śrāddha with care: prioritize ethical conduct and religious discipline in selecting priests/recipients, and treat ritual giving as inseparable from personal dharma and integrity.