Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

ततो दक्षिणा भिमुखेन वामोपवीतेनामुकगोत्रेभ्यो अस्मत्पितृपितामहप्रपितामहेभ्यो यथानामशर्मभ्य एतत्पादोदकमर्घ्यं स्वधेति पित्रादिब्राह्मणपादयोः पितृतीर्थेन आभुग्नकुशकुसुमसहितजलदानम्

Transliteration

tato dakṣiṇā bhimukhena vāmopavītenāmukagotrebhyo asmatpitṛpitāmahaprapitāmahebhyo yathānāmaśarmabhya etatpādodakamarghyaṃ svadheti pitrādibrāhmaṇapādayoḥ pitṛtīrthena ābhugnakuśakusumasahitajaladānam

Translation

ต่อจากนั้นให้หันหน้าไปทางทิศใต้ สวมยัชโญปวีตแบบวาโมปวีต แล้วเอ่ยโคตรและนามของบิดา ปู่ และทวดของตน กล่าวคำว่า “สวธา” และถวายอรรฆยะเป็นน้ำล้างเท้านี้ โดยใช้น้ำผสมหญ้ากุศะที่พับและดอกไม้ เทด้วยปิตฤตีรถะลงที่เท้าของพราหมณ์ผู้แทนปิตฤทั้งหลาย

Word by Word

tataḥThen/Thereafter

dakṣiṇābhimukhenaFacing the south

vāmopavītenaWearing the sacred thread (in the reverse/left manner)

amukagotrebhyaḥTo those of [such and such] lineage

asmatpitṛpitāmahaprapitāmahebhyaḥTo our father, grandfather, and great-grandfather

yathānāmaśarmabhyaḥTo those having [such and such] names/titles

etatThis

pādodakamWater for washing feet

arghyamWater for respectful offering

svadhāSvadha (Offering to ancestors)

itiThus (marker of speech/mantra)

pitrādibrāhmaṇapādayoḥOn the feet of the Brahmanas representing ancestors etc.

pitṛtīrthenaVia the Pitr-tirtha (part of the hand between thumb and index)

ābhugnakuśakusumasahitajaladānamGiving of water accompanied by bent Kusha grass and flowers

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śrāddha offerings to pitṛs; after seating/establishing the rite, at the arghya/pādodaka offering step

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-ṛṇa (debt to ancestors) is discharged through correctly oriented, mantra-marked water-offerings with lineage remembrance.

Vedantic Theme: ṛṇa-traya and karma: dharmic action (niyata-karma) purifies and sustains social-cosmic order (ṛta/dharma).

Application: When performing śrāddha/tarpaṇa: face south, adopt vāmopavīta, state gotra and names, offer pādodaka/arghya with kuśa and flowers via pitṛ-tīrtha to brāhmaṇa representatives.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (gṛha/śrāddha-maṇḍapa) oriented by directions

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-kalpa sections on vāmopavīta and pitṛ-tīrtha usage; Garuda Purana instructions on naming (gotra-nāma) during śrāddha and tarpaṇa

Characters & Entities

Pitris

Brahmanas

FAQs

What is the importance of facing south and wearing vāmopavīta in Garuda Purana rites?

This verse frames south-facing posture and vāmopavīta as the correct ritual orientation for Pitṛ-karmas, signaling that the offering is directed to ancestors rather than devas.

How does this verse describe the correct way to offer arghya to ancestors?

It instructs offering pādodaka as arghya while uttering “svadhā,” naming the paternal lineage (father–grandfather–great-grandfather) with gotra, and pouring water with pitṛ-tīrtha at the feet of brāhmaṇas who ritually stand in for the Pitṛs.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestor offerings with clarity and reverence: keep correct intent, recite names/gotra carefully, and follow traditional markers (svadhā, pitṛ-tīrtha, kuśa/flowers) to maintain continuity and gratitude toward one’s lineage.