Shloka 47

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

with Vṛṣotsarga and Ghaṭa-dāna

Devanagari script

एकेनैव तु पाकेन श्राद्धानि कुरुते सुतः / एकं तु विकिरं कुर्यात्पिण्डान्दद्यद्बहूनपि / तीर्थे चापरपक्षे वा चन्द्रसूर्यग्रहे ऽपि वा

Transliteration

ekenaiva tu pākena śrāddhāni kurute sutaḥ / ekaṃ tu vikiraṃ kuryātpiṇḍāndadyadbahūnapi / tīrthe cāparapakṣe vā candrasūryagrahe 'pi vā

Translation

ด้วยการปรุงอาหารเพียงครั้งเดียว บุตรอาจประกอบพิธีศราทธ์ได้ พึงทำวิกิระเพียงครั้งเดียว และอาจถวายปิณฑะได้หลายก้อน—ไม่ว่าจะ ณ ตีรถะ ในอปรปักษะ หรือแม้ในคราวจันทรคราสและสุริยคราสด้วย।

Word by Word

• ekena: with one (single)
• ekena: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया, एकवचन (पाकेन इति विशेष्यस्य अन्वयः)

• eva: indeed; only
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (emphatic particle)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (contrast/indeed)

• pākena: by one cooking/preparation
• pākena: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, एकवचन

• śrāddhāni: śrāddhas
• śrāddhāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• kurute: does/performs
• kurute: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचन

• sutaḥ: the son
• sutaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ekam: one
• ekam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन (विकिरम् इति विशेष्यस्य अन्वयः)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः

• vikiram: a single scattering/offering (vikira)
• vikiram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन (विकिरः—विक्षेप/विकिरण-क्रिया/अर्पण-विशेषः)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचन

• piṇḍān: piṇḍas (rice-balls)
• piṇḍān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचन

• bahūn: many
• bahūn: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (पिण्डान् इति विशेष्यस्य अन्वयः)

• api: also; even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक-निपातः (also/even)

• tīrthe: at a sacred place
• tīrthe: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• aparapakṣe: in the dark fortnight
• aparapakṣe: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक; अपर + पक्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः (अपरः पक्षः)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपातः

• candrasūryagrahe: during a lunar/solar eclipse
• candrasūryagrahe: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra + sūrya + graha (प्रातिपदिक; चन्द्र + सूर्य + ग्रह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च) + तत्पुरुषः (तयोः ग्रहः)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (even/also)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपातः

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Aparapakṣa (dark fortnight) and grahaṇa-kāla (eclipse), or at tīrtha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficiency is allowed (single cooking) while maintaining key acts (vikira) and enabling multiple piṇḍas; certain times/places amplify śrāddha merit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed with right intention and proper markers (sankalpa/acts) can be adapted to circumstance; sacred time-space (kāla-deśa) modulates fruit.

Application: When resources are limited, prepare one batch of śrāddha food, complete required vikirā, and offer multiple piṇḍas; prefer tīrtha, aparapakṣa, or eclipse periods if tradition permits and guidance is available.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: pilgrimage site / riverbank

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tīrtha-śrāddha and eclipse-related dāna/śrāddha merit statements; Garuda Purana: aparapakṣa/pitṛpakṣa observance guidance (conceptual link)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of doing Śrāddha with a single cooking (eka-pāka) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse indicates that one properly prepared meal-offering can be used to complete the śrāddha observance, emphasizing efficiency without reducing sanctity, as long as the rite is performed correctly.

What does the verse say about vikira and offering many piṇḍas?

It prescribes making at least one vikira (a strewing/scattering offering as part of the rite) and allows offering multiple piṇḍas, highlighting completeness in the ritual components for the departed and the Pitṛs.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If resources or time are limited, families can still perform śrāddha properly with a single respectful preparation and the essential offerings, and may choose auspicious occasions like tīrthas, the dark fortnight, or eclipse times according to tradition and guidance.