Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

नित्यश्राद्धे त्यजेदेतान् भोज्यमन्नं प्रकल्पयेत् / दत्त्वा तु दक्षिणां शक्त्या नमस्कारैर्विसर्जयेत्

Transliteration

nityaśrāddhe tyajedetān bhojyamannaṃ prakalpayet / dattvā tu dakṣiṇāṃ śaktyā namaskārairvisarjayet

Translation

ในพิธีศราทธะประจำวัน พึงละเว้นสิ่งต้องห้ามเหล่านี้และจัดเตรียมภักษาหารที่ควรรับประทาน แล้วถวายทักษิณาตามกำลัง จากนั้นพึงส่งด้วยความเคารพพร้อมนมัสการ

Word by Word

• नित्यश्राद्धे: in the daily śrāddha
• नित्यश्राद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नित्य + श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्यजेत्: should abandon/omit
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भोज्यम्: fit to be eaten
• भोज्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-योग्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should prepare/arrange
• प्रकल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having given’

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधसूचक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• दक्षिणाम्: fee/gift (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शक्त्या: according to one’s ability
• शक्त्या: Karana (करण/according to ability)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• नमस्कारैः: with salutations
• नमस्कारैः: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विसर्जयेत्: should dismiss/send off
• विसर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Nitya-śrāddha (daily observance)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha must be done with purity of food, proper honorarium, and respectful completion of the rite.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed as niyata-karma with śraddhā and without excess; sanctifying intention through right procedure.

Application: In any offering/service: avoid improper inputs, give within means, and close interactions with gratitude and respect.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: gṛha (household) / śrāddha-śālā (ritual space)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-khaṇḍa: nitya-śrāddha vidhi; bhojya-niṣedha; dakṣiṇā-vidhi; visarjana-mantra/namaskāra

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Brahmanas

FAQs

What is the importance of nitya-śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames nitya-śrāddha as a disciplined daily observance: avoid prohibited items, offer suitable food, give dakṣiṇā as per capacity, and conclude respectfully—supporting continuity of pitṛ-duty (pitṛ-ṛṇa).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

In the Preta Kanda setting, śrāddha supports the departed’s welfare through dharmic offerings; the verse emphasizes correct ritual closure (dakṣiṇā and visarjana), reflecting that orderly rites sustain the intended benefit for ancestors and the subtle journey after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep ancestral rites simple but correct: avoid unsuitable offerings, prepare clean appropriate food, give charity/honorarium within your means, and end the rite with gratitude and respectful salutations.