Shloka 12

The Explanation of the Post-funeral Rites (Aurdhvadehika) and Related Matters

Devanagari script

कृते श्राद्धे गुणा ह्येते पितॄणां तपेणे स्मृताः / दद्याद्विपुलमन्नाद्यं वृद्धस्तु प्रपितामहः

Transliteration

kṛte śrāddhe guṇā hyete pitṝṇāṃ tapeṇe smṛtāḥ / dadyādvipulamannādyaṃ vṛddhastu prapitāmahaḥ

Translation

విధివిధానంగా శ్రాద్ధం చేసినప్పుడు పితృదేవతలకు తపస్సుతో సమానమైన పుణ్యఫలం కలుగుతుందని స్మృతి చెబుతుంది. కాబట్టి విరివిగా అన్నాద్యాన్ని సమర్పించాలి; పితృగణంలో జ్యేష్ఠ గ్రాహకుడు ప్రపితామహుడు.

Word by Word

• कृते: when (it is) performed
• कृते: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्समये (Locative absolute sense), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त used adverbially = 'when done'

• श्राद्धे: in the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धे: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• गुणाः: qualities/merits
• गुणाः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/causal nuance

• एते: these
• एते: विशेषण (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• तपेण: by austerity / through penance
• तपेण: करण (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/हेतु sense

• स्मृताः: are remembered/are stated
• स्मृताः: कर्मणि-प्रयोगे कर्म-विशेष्य (कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृत (स्मृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate with implied 'are'

• दद्यात्: one should give
• दद्यात्: विधेय-क्रिया (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• विपुलम्: abundant
• विपुलम्: विशेषण (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; agrees with अन्नाद्यम्

• अन्नाद्यम्: food and provisions
• अन्नाद्यम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अन्नम् + आद्यम्) = 'food and the like/food etc.'

• वृद्धः: the elder (one)
• वृद्धः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; used substantively

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; contrast/emphasis

• प्रपितामहः: great-grandfather
• प्रपितामहः: सम्बन्ध/सम्बोधन-प्राय (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha occasion (tithi-based; commonly amāvāsyā/annual śrāddha as applicable)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha, when properly performed with ample anna-dāna, yields merit that strengthens/benefits the Pitṛs; correct recipient-order matters.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa efficacy within dharma: intentional action (yajña/dāna) produces subtle results benefiting unseen recipients.

Application: Perform śrāddha with care, offer sufficient food/provisions, and follow the prescribed ancestral order, honoring the eldest forefather (prapitāmaha) in the sequence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

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

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta-kalpa/Śrāddha-prakaraṇa: discussions on piṇḍa, tarpaṇa, and recipient order (pitā–pitāmaha–prapitāmaha); Garuda Purana: Nārāyaṇa-bali and śrāddha as means of preta-śuddhi (nearby verses 2.35.15–16)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Prapitāmaha

FAQs

What is the importance of Śrāddha for the Pitṛs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that properly performed Śrāddha yields specific benefits for the Pitṛs, regarded as equivalent to strengthening them through tapas-like merit, emphasizing sincere and complete offerings.

How does this verse explain what should be offered in Śrāddha?

It explicitly advises giving vipula annādya—plentiful food and provisions—highlighting generosity in the rite rather than minimal, token offerings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with care and generosity—feed others, donate food or essentials in the ancestors’ name, and keep the intention of honoring the lineage and supporting dependents.