Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

कुरुष्वेति तथोक्तोसौ हुत्वाग्नौ पितृयज्ञवत् / हुतशेषं प्रदद्याच्च भाजनेषु समाहितः

Transliteration

kuruṣveti tathoktosau hutvāgnau pitṛyajñavat / hutaśeṣaṃ pradadyācca bhājaneṣu samāhitaḥ

Translation

เมื่อได้รับคำสั่งว่า “จงกระทำ” แล้ว เขาพึงบูชาไฟตามพิธีปิตฤยัชญะ; จากนั้นด้วยจิตตั้งมั่น พึงแจกจ่ายส่วนที่เหลือจากเครื่องบูชาลงในภาชนะทั้งหลาย।

Word by Word

• कुरुष्व: do (you)
• कुरुष्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• तथा: so, in that manner
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• उक्तः: having been told/said
• उक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• असौ: that person (he)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• हुत्वा: having offered (into fire)
• हुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• अग्नौ: in the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• पितृयज्ञवत्: like a pitṛ-yajña (ancestral rite)
• पितृयज्ञवत्: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पितृयज्ञ (समास: पितृ + यज्ञ) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverbial ‘like/as’), उपमानवाचक

• हुतशेषम्: the remainder of the offering
• हुतशेषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुतशेष (समास: हुत + शेष)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (offering-remnant)

• प्रदद्यात्: should give
• प्रदद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भाजनेषु: in the vessels
• भाजनेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन

• समाहितः: composed, attentive
• समाहितः: Karta (Agent as qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + धा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘collected/attentive’, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra; prescriptive narration for the performer)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śrāddha sequence after homa/pitṛyajña-style offering; before/alongside feeding and distribution

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-yajña must be done with samāhita-citta; the consecrated remainder is to be distributed properly, preserving sanctity (śeṣa-prasāda).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: disciplined action with purity of mind; sanctification of food as yajña-śeṣa.

Application: Perform ancestral rites with attention and calm; treat leftovers as consecrated and distribute/handle them respectfully rather than casually.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa/Śrāddha-prakaraṇa): procedures for homa, śeṣa, and distribution to vessels in śrāddha contexts

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛ-yajña style offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that offerings should be made into Agni following Pitṛ-yajña conventions, underscoring disciplined ancestor-rites as a dharmic duty.

How does this verse connect ritual action with spiritual outcomes?

By prescribing a calm, attentive mind (samāhita) and correct procedure, the verse implies that right performance and inner composure preserve the sanctity and efficacy of the rite directed to the Pitṛs.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform any ancestral rite carefully: make offerings in the proper way, then respectfully distribute the remaining consecrated portion, maintaining mental focus and reverence.