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Shloka 23

Sapindīkaraṇa: Timing, Eligibility, Gotra Rules, and Yearlong Śrāddha

with Vṛṣotsarga and Ghaṭa-dāna

Devanagari script

पितुः पुत्त्रेण कर्तव्यं सपिण्डीकरणं सदा / पुत्त्राभावे तु पत्नी स्यात्पत्न्यभावे सहोदरः

Transliteration

pituḥ puttreṇa kartavyaṃ sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṃ sadā / puttrābhāve tu patnī syātpatnyabhāve sahodaraḥ

Translation

พิธีสปิณฑีกรณ (sapiṇḍīkaraṇa) เพื่อบิดา พึงกระทำโดยบุตรชายเสมอ หากไร้บุตรชาย ให้ภรรยากระทำ; หากไร้ภรรยา ให้พี่น้องร่วมบิดามารดากระทำ

Word by Word
पितुःof the father
पितुः:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन
पुत्त्रेणby the son
पुत्त्रेण:
Karaṇa (Instrument/Agent-in-instrumental/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन
कर्तव्यम्must be done
कर्तव्यम्:
Kriyā (Obligation predicate/विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Root√कृ (धातु) + तव्य (कृत्य प्रत्यय)
Formकृत्य (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (to be done)
सपिण्डीकरणम्the sapindīkaraṇa rite (making one a sapinda)
सपिण्डीकरणम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootसपिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + ईकरण (प्रातिपदिक; भाववाचक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियावाचक-नाम (making sapinda)
सदाalways
सदा:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसदा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: always)
पुत्त्राभावेin the absence of a son
पुत्त्राभावे:
Adhikaraṇa (Condition/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘पुत्रस्य अभावे’
तुthen; but
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (contrast/emphasis)
पत्नीthe wife
पत्नी:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
स्यात्should be (the one)
स्यात्:
Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√अस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
पत्न्यभावेin the absence of the wife
पत्न्यभावे:
Adhikaraṇa (Condition/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootपत्नी (प्रातिपदिक) + अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘पत्न्याः अभावे’
सहोदरःa full brother (uterine brother)
सहोदरः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसह (अव्यय) + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः ‘सहोदर’ = ‘सह उदरे जातः’ (born of the same womb)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At the sapiṇḍīkaraṇa stage (traditionally after the initial preta-śrāddhas, per prayoga).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa for the father is primarily the son’s duty; in his absence, the wife, and failing her, the full brother performs it.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as role-based obligation sustaining cosmic and familial order; karma is discharged through authorized relational duties.

Application: Follow the prescribed order of performers for sapiṇḍīkaraṇa: son → wife → full brother, ensuring rites are not omitted due to missing primary heirs.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/śrāddha passages on sapiṇḍīkaraṇa as the integrating rite into pitṛ-gaṇa; Garuda Purana 2.26.19 on preta release through rites; 2.26.20 on sapinda constraints

Characters & Entities
P
Pitris

FAQs

This verse states it as a necessary rite for the father, assigning clear responsibility so the departed is ritually connected with the Pitṛs through piṇḍa offerings.

By emphasizing sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, it points to the transition from the preta state toward ancestral status (Pitṛ-loka connection), supported by correct śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna.

Ensure post-death rites are not neglected: if a son is unavailable, the wife or, failing that, the deceased’s full brother should arrange and perform the required śrāddha/sapiṇḍīkaraṇa according to tradition.

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