Shloka 56

Śrāddha as Trans-realm Nourishment; Pitṛ-Conveyance; Piṇḍa-born Body and the ātivāhika; Bhakti-based Release

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छ्राद्धं प्रयत्नेन सम्यक्कुर्याद्विचक्षणः / तस्माच्छ्राद्धं चरेद्भक्त्या शाकैरपि यथाविधि

Transliteration

tasmācchrāddhaṃ prayatnena samyakkuryādvicakṣaṇaḥ / tasmācchrāddhaṃ caredbhaktyā śākairapi yathāvidhi

Translation

ฉะนั้นผู้มีปัญญาควรกระทำศราทธะให้ถูกต้องด้วยความเพียร; ฉะนั้นจงประกอบศราทธะด้วยศรัทธาตามพิธี แม้ใช้ผักเป็นเครื่องบูชาก็ตาม

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ablative

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort
• प्रयत्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विचक्षणः: the discerning person
• विचक्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; agent noun used as subject

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ablative

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• चरेत्: should perform/practice
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental

• शाकैः: with vegetables/greens
• शाकैः: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादबोधक निपात (particle: even/also)

• यथा-विधि: according to the prescribed rule
• यथा-विधि: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास; रीतिवाचक अव्यय (according to rule)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At the prescribed time (tithi/śrāddha day) and according to family śākhā/ācāra.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha must be performed with prayatna (effort), samyak (correctness), and bhakti; material simplicity (even vegetables) is acceptable if aligned with rule and devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga attitude: right action with devotion and propriety; inner disposition sanctifies outer means.

Application: Perform śrāddha punctually with accurate mantras/offerings as per tradition; if resources are limited, offer simple sāttvika items (śāka) without neglecting procedure and faith.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-vidhi passages emphasizing correctness (vidhi) and devotion (bhakti) over luxury

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of Shraddha in Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that śrāddha should be done correctly and diligently; even simple offerings (like vegetables) are acceptable when performed with devotion and according to scriptural procedure.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

In the Preta Kanda context, proper śrāddha supports the departed through post-death transitions by fulfilling ancestral duties; the emphasis here is on correctness (samyak) and devotion (bhakti) rather than luxury of materials.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with sincerity and accuracy within your means—maintain devotion and follow the prescribed method, even if offerings are simple and vegetarian.