Shloka 109

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

शृणु तार्क्ष्य यथान्यायं प्रेतत्वे पितरो यदि / नोपतिष्ठन्ति श्राद्धानि सपिण्डीकरणं विना

Transliteration

śṛṇu tārkṣya yathānyāyaṃ pretatve pitaro yadi / nopatiṣṭhanti śrāddhāni sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṃ vinā

Translation

โอ้ตารกษยะ (ครุฑ) จงฟังธรรมอันถูกต้อง: หากบรรพชนยังอยู่ในภาวะเปรตแล้ว หากปราศจากพิธีสปิณฑีกรณะ ศราทธะที่ถวายย่อมไม่ถึงท่านโดยสมบูรณ์.

Word by Word

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: क्रिया (Verb; आदेश)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तार्क्ष्य: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• तार्क्ष्य: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; vocative

• यथा-न्यायम्: according to proper rule
• यथा-न्यायम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; adverbial compound meaning 'according to rule'

• प्रेतत्वे: in the state of being a preta
• प्रेतत्वे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/State)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेतत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• पितरः: the ancestors
• पितरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; nominative plural

• यदि: if
• यदि: सम्बन्ध (Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conditional particle (शर्त)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; negation particle (निषेध)

• उपतिष्ठन्ति: attend/are present/accept
• उपतिष्ठन्ति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्राद्धानि: Śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; accusative plural

• सपिण्डीकरणम्: the sapiṇḍīkaraṇa rite
• सपिण्डीकरणम्: अपादान/विनार्थ (Exclusion with vinā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपिण्डीकरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular (as object with vinā)

• विना: without
• विना: अपादान (Apādāna/Separation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; preposition-like indeclinable meaning 'without' (विनार्थक)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Tārkṣya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After death, as prescribed; prerequisite before regular pitṛ-śrāddha is effective for a preta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual causality: without sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, śrāddha does not properly connect to a preta; correct saṃskāra enables reception.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha and saṃskāra as operative law in subtle realms; dharma as compassionate technology for transition.

Application: Ensure sapiṇḍīkaraṇa is performed per eligibility; until then, focus on prescribed preta-kriyās rather than assuming regular śrāddha suffices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: liminal after-death condition

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34 (discussion of preta-state, sapiṇḍīkaraṇa necessity, and śrāddha reach)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tārkṣya)
• Pitris
• Preta
• Shraddha
• Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of sapiṇḍīkaraṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that without sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, śrāddha offerings are not duly received when the departed is still in the preta condition; the rite ritually integrates the departed with the Pitṛ lineage.

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

It distinguishes a transitional preta phase from the Pitṛ status; proper rites (especially sapiṇḍīkaraṇa) are presented as necessary for the deceased to be eligible to receive śrāddha as an ancestor.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows śrāddha traditions, ensure the sequence and completion of prescribed post-death rites (including sapiṇḍīkaraṇa where customary) rather than performing offerings out of order or incompletely.