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Shloka 21

Determining Rites for Difficult/Inauspicious Deaths; Annual and Daily Śrāddha Rules

Devanagari script

पुत्रादिना यदारब्धं श्राद्धं तत्त्वेन वाखिलम् / समापनीयं तत्रापि श्राद्धं गृहीतु दूरतः

Transliteration

putrādinā yadārabdhaṃ śrāddhaṃ tattvena vākhilam / samāpanīyaṃ tatrāpi śrāddhaṃ gṛhītu dūrataḥ

Translation

ศราทธะใดที่บุตรเป็นต้นได้เริ่มประกอบอย่างครบถ้วนตามหลักธรรมแล้ว พึงทำให้สำเร็จสมบูรณ์; และแม้ในกรณีนั้นก็ควรรับศราทธะจากระยะไกล

Word by Word
पुत्र-आदिनाby a son etc.
पुत्र-आदिना:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘पुत्रादि’ = son etc.; करण (by)
यत्which (śrāddha)
यत्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun (referring to śrāddha)
आरब्धम्begun
आरब्धम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootआरब्ध (कृदन्त; √रभ् (धातु) उपसर्ग-आ + क्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘begun’ (qualifying śrāddha)
श्राद्धम्śrāddha (rite)
श्राद्धम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootश्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म/विषय
तत्त्वेनproperly/in accordance with truth
तत्त्वेन:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootतत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण/प्रकार (in truth/properly)
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्प-अव्यय (particle: or)
अखिलम्entire/complete
अखिलम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण ‘entire’
समापनीयम्to be completed/should be concluded
समापनीयम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootसमापनीय (कृदन्त; √आप्/√अव (धातु) causative/gerundive sense; here: ‘to be completed’)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-भाव (gerundive/भाव्य) ‘should be completed’
तत्रthere/in that case
तत्र:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र (अव्यय)
Formदेश/प्रसङ्गवाचक-अव्यय (there/in that case)
अपिalso/even
अपि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय/अपि-अव्यय (also/even)
श्राद्धम्śrāddha
श्राद्धम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootश्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
गृहीतुto take up/perform
गृहीतु:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitive purpose)
TypeVerb
Root√ग्रह् (धातु)
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to take/accept/undertake’
दूरतःfrom a distance
दूरतः:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootदूरतस् (अव्यय/तसिल्)
Formअपादानार्थक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: from afar/at a distance)
Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: When śrāddha has been properly initiated by son/eligible kin, it must be completed; acceptance/participation may be done from a distance when required.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha begun by a son etc., if done according to proper principles, must be completed; one may accept/participate from a distance.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of saṅkalpa and śāstric correctness over logistical obstacles; dharma is upheld through completion (samāpana).

Application: If a qualified relative has properly initiated śrāddha, ensure it is finished without interruption; if personal presence is restricted, participate/authorize in the permitted ‘distance’ manner per tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual space with distance constraint

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.45 (rules on who may perform śrāddha, completion, and constraints due to āśauca/absence)

Characters & Entities
P
Pitris

FAQs

This verse stresses that once a proper Śrāddha is begun by an eligible descendant, it should be concluded fully and correctly, indicating that completion of the rite is itself a key part of honoring the Pitṛs and fulfilling dharma.

The instruction implies maintaining ritual boundaries and purity while still allowing the Śrāddha to be received/acknowledged—suggesting that even when circumstances require separation, the rite should not be abandoned but handled with careful observance.

If you begin ancestral rites or memorial observances, complete them responsibly and follow agreed ritual protocols; when constraints exist, preserve respect and purity through appropriate distancing rather than neglecting the duty.

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