Shloka 59

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

एकादशाहे यच्छ्राद्धं नवकं तत् प्रकीर्तितम् / चतुष्पथे त्यजेदन्नं पुनः स्नानं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

ekādaśāhe yacchrāddhaṃ navakaṃ tat prakīrtitam / catuṣpathe tyajedannaṃ punaḥ snānaṃ samācaret

Translation

పదకొండవ రోజున చేయబడే శ్రాద్ధం ‘నవక’ అని ప్రసిద్ధి. చౌరస్తాలో అన్నాన్ని విడిచిపెట్టి, తరువాత మళ్లీ స్నానం ఆచరించాలి.

Word by Word

• ekādaśāhe: on the eleventh day
• ekādaśāhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative of time; dvigu: ekādaśa (11) + aha (day)

• yat: which
• yat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/ Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun qualifying śrāddham

• śrāddham: Śrāddha rite
• śrāddham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of prakīrtitam

• navakam: (called) ‘navaka’
• navakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: navaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective to śrāddham

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative referring to the rite

• prakīrtitam: is proclaimed/said
• prakīrtitam: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√kīrt (धातु) + kta (कृत्) → prakīrtita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; past passive participle used predicatively

• catuṣpathe: at a crossroads
• catuṣpathe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catuṣpatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative; dvigu: catuḥ (four) + patha (road)

• tyajet: should abandon/leave
• tyajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• annam: food
• annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; object of tyajet

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of samācaret (understood: snānaṃ samācaret)

• samācaret: should perform/practice
• samācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Eleventh day (ekādaśāha) designated as ‘navaka’.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha-niyama: the eleventh-day śrāddha is ‘navaka’; remnants are disposed at a liminal place and the performer re-purifies by bathing.

Vedantic Theme: Purity/impurity as functional disciplines (vyavahāra) supporting dharma; detachment from remnants and completion of rite without clinging.

Application: On ekādaśāha/navaka day, complete śrāddha; discard designated food at a crossroads per rule; perform snāna again before re-entering normal domestic activities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: liminal public junction

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.60 on ongoing daily offerings from the eleventh day; Garuda Purana śrāddha sections describing ekoddiṣṭa and sapīṇḍīkaraṇa sequences

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of the Navaka Śrāddha on the eleventh day in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies the eleventh-day Śrāddha as “Navaka,” marking a specific post-death rite in the Preta-kāṇḍa sequence that is treated as a distinct, named observance.

Why does the verse mention discarding food at a crossroads?

The verse prescribes leaving/abandoning the offered food at a catuṣpatha (crossroads), a liminal place used in ritual contexts, followed by renewed purification through bathing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing Śrāddha, follow the prescribed ritual cleanliness: handle offerings with care, follow tradition for disposal (as guided by local śāstric practice), and observe purification steps such as bathing afterward.