Shloka 38

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

कुर्यादेकादशाहं च द्वादशाहं च यत्नतः / सपिण्डीकरणादर्वाक्कुर्याच्छ्राद्धानि षोडश

Transliteration

kuryādekādaśāhaṃ ca dvādaśāhaṃ ca yatnataḥ / sapiṇḍīkaraṇādarvākkuryācchrāddhāni ṣoḍaśa

Translation

พึงประกอบพิธีวันที่สิบเอ็ดและวันที่สิบสองด้วยความเพียร และก่อนพิธีสปิณฑีกรณะ พึงทำศราทธะสิบหกครั้งตามแบบแผน

Word by Word

• कुर्यात्: should do / should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• एकादशाहम्: the eleven-day (rite/period)
• एकादशाहम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादश-अह (प्रातिपदिक; एकादश + अहन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (कालवाचक), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (एकादशानां अह्नाम् समाहारः/अवधिः)

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

• द्वादशाहम्: the twelve-day (rite/period)
• द्वादशाहम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश-अह (प्रातिपदिक; द्वादश + अहन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (कालवाचक), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (द्वादशानां अह्नाम् समाहारः/अवधिः)

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

• यत्नतः: carefully / with effort
• यत्नतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्नतः (अव्यय; यत्न + तस्)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: with effort/carefully)

• सपिण्डीकरणात्: from/after the sapiṇḍīkaraṇa (rite)
• सपिण्डीकरणात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स-पिण्डीकरण (प्रातिपदिक; पिण्डीकरण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (सह/सम्बद्धः पिण्डीकरणः)

• अर्वाक्: before (that)
• अर्वाक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अर्वाक् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (before/this side)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• श्राद्धानि: śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धानि: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; (श्राद्धानि इति नपुंसक बहुवचनस्य) विशेषणम्

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Ekādaśāha and dvādaśāha; sixteen śrāddhas performed before sapīṇḍīkaraṇa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Post-death rites are time-bound and sequential; diligence (yatnataḥ) in prescribed days and the sixteen śrāddhas prepares for sapīṇḍīkaraṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṃskāra as ordering principles that stabilize the living and honor the dead; disciplined observance supports sattva and reduces grief’s turbulence.

Application: Observe the 11th and 12th day rites carefully; before sapīṇḍīkaraṇa, perform the prescribed set of sixteen śrāddhas in order and without negligence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: gṛha and śrāddha-sthāna across days (domestic ritual cycle)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-kalpa on ekādaśāha, dvādaśāha, and sapīṇḍīkaraṇa sequencing (adjacent verses 2.14.37–40)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of sapīṇḍīkaraṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places sapīṇḍīkaraṇa as a key milestone: until it is done, specific śrāddha offerings are to be completed, indicating the deceased’s transition toward the pitṛ (ancestor) status through proper rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By prescribing timed rites (11th and 12th day) and a set of śrāddhas before sapīṇḍīkaraṇa, the verse implies that ritual support is sequential and structured during the preta phase, aiding the departed’s onward journey and settlement among the ancestors.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following tradition, observe post-death rites with discipline and correct sequencing—especially the 11th/12th day observances and śrāddhas leading up to sapīṇḍīkaraṇa—ideally under guidance of competent family elders or a learned priest.