Shloka 26

Śrāddha Vidhi (Pārvaṇa-Śrāddha): Invitations, Arghya, Protective Rites, Piṇḍa Offering, Dakṣiṇā, and Visarjana

Devanagari script

पूर्वस्थापितपात्रशेषोदकैः प्रत्येकं पिण्डसेचनं-पिण्डमावाह्य गन्धादिदानं-पिण्डोपरि कुशपत्रञ्च दत्त्वा ॐ अक्षन्नमीमदन्तह्य व प्रिया अधूषत अस्तोषतस्वभानवो विप्रा नविष्ठयामती / यो जान्विन्द्र ते हरीति त्रिर्जपः

Transliteration

pūrvasthāpitapātraśeṣodakaiḥ pratyekaṃ piṇḍasecanaṃ-piṇḍamāvāhya gandhādidānaṃ-piṇḍopari kuśapatrañca dattvā oṃ akṣannamīmadantahya va priyā adhūṣata astoṣatasvabhānavo viprā naviṣṭhayāmatī / yo jānvindra te harīti trirjapaḥ

Translation

ใช้น้ำที่เหลือในภาชนะที่วางไว้ก่อนหน้านี้ พรมน้ำลงบนก้อนข้าว (ปิณฑะ) แต่ละก้อน เมื่ออัญเชิญปิณฑะแล้ว พึงถวายเครื่องหอมและสิ่งอื่นๆ วางใบหญ้าคาบนปิณฑะ แล้วสวดมนตร์ที่ขึ้นต้นด้วย 'โอม อักษัน อมีมทันตะ...' สามจบ

Word by Word

• pūrvasthāpitapātraśeṣodakaiḥ: With remaining waters from the previously placed vessel
• pūrvasthāpitapātraśeṣodakaiḥ: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva-sthāpita-pātra-śeṣa-udaka
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• akṣan: They ate
• akṣan: Action
• Type: Verb
• Root: ad
• Form: Lung Lakara (Aorist), 3rd Person, Plural

• amīmadanta: They rejoiced
• amīmadanta: Action
• Type: Verb
• Root: mad
• Form: Lung Lakara (Aorist), Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Plural (Causal)

• adhūṣata: They shook/agitated (away evil)
• adhūṣata: Action
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhū
• Form: Lung Lakara (Aorist), Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Plural

• astoṣata: They praised
• astoṣata: Action
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu
• Form: Lung Lakara (Aorist), Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Plural

• svabhānavo: Self-luminous ones
• svabhānavo: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva-bhānu
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• naviṣṭhayā: With the newest/freshest
• naviṣṭhayā: Qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naviṣṭha
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular (Superlative of Nava)

• matī: Thought/Intelligence/Hymn
• matī: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular (Vedic form)

• yojā: May you yoke
• yojā: Action
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj
• Form: Let Lakara (Subjunctive), 2nd Person, Singular (Vedic)

• indra: O Indra
• indra: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• harī: Two horses
• harī: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Mid-rite upacāra and mantra-sealing after initial piṇḍa offerings

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Each piṇḍa is individually honored; mantra and upacāra (gandha etc.) complete the rite with precision.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa efficacy depends on saṃskāra, mantra, and niyama; disciplined repetition steadies mind and intention.

Application: Use remaining consecrated water for individual piṇḍa-sechana; perform āvāhana, offer gandha, place kuśa leaf, and recite the specified ṛk/mantra thrice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: śrāddha offering spot with pre-placed vessel and multiple piṇḍas

Cross References

Related Themes: Procedural continuation from 1.218.24-25; leads into brāhmaṇa-related steps in 1.218.27-28

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of pinda-sechana in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse treats pinda-sechana as a required step: each piṇḍa is individually sprinkled with sanctified leftover water, completing the offering and ritually nourishing the departed in the śrāddha context.

Why are kuśa leaves and mantra-japa prescribed with the piṇḍa offering?

The verse pairs physical ritual acts (placing kuśa, offering fragrance) with mantra recitation, indicating that correct intention and Vedic sound sanctify and ‘activate’ the offering after invoking the piṇḍa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha, follow the sequence carefully—invoke, offer upacāras, place kuśa, and recite the prescribed mantra the stated number of times—emphasizing disciplined, respectful ritual conduct for ancestral rites.