Shloka 10

The Explanation of the Post-funeral Rites (Aurdhvadehika) and Related Matters

Devanagari script

विधिना कुरुते यस्तु संसारे श्राद्धमुत्तमम् / जायते ऽत्र न सन्देहः शृणु तस्यापि यत् फलम्

Transliteration

vidhinā kurute yastu saṃsāre śrāddhamuttamam / jāyate 'tra na sandehaḥ śṛṇu tasyāpi yat phalam

Translation

ผู้ใดขณะดำรงอยู่ในโลกนี้ประกอบศราทธะอันประเสริฐตามพิธีที่กำหนด ย่อมไม่มีข้อสงสัย จงฟังผลบุญที่บังเกิดจากนั้นด้วย

Word by Word

• विधिना: by the proper rule/rite
• विधिना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कुरुते: performs
• कुरुते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• संसारे: in worldly life
• संसारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

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

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; श्राद्धम् इति विशेषण

• जायते: arises/comes about
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• न: not/no
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• सन्देहः: doubt
• सन्देहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तस्य: of that (rite)/its
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also/even)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: While living (saṃsāre), at prescribed śrāddha times (tithi/parva)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Properly performed śrāddha (vidhinā) inevitably produces fruit; ritual action has reliable karmic efficacy when aligned with injunctions.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as ordered causality within dharma; śraddhā (trust) and niyama (rule-following) stabilize the mind and society.

Application: Perform śrāddha with correct procedure (mantra, time, purity, intention) under guidance; cultivate consistency rather than occasional, careless observance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: human world / household ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-phala descriptions following this verse (2.35.11 onward in the same discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Shraddha

FAQs

What is the importance of performing Śrāddha with proper vidhi in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that an “uttama” (excellent) Śrāddha must be done according to prescribed rules, and that such correctness is what ensures definite spiritual results (phala) rather than uncertain outcomes.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, Śrāddha is presented as a supportive rite connected to post-death welfare; the verse introduces that proper performance yields a specific phala that impacts the deceased’s condition and the ancestral line.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

If one performs ancestral rites, do them with sincerity and correct procedure (as taught by tradition/qualified priests) and treat them as a dharmic duty—emphasizing disciplined observance over mere formality.