Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

देवानुद्दिश्य विश्वादीन् यद्दद्याद्द्विजभोजनम् / तन्नित्यश्राद्धवत् कार्यं देवश्राद्धं तदुच्यते

Transliteration

devānuddiśya viśvādīn yaddadyāddvijabhojanam / tannityaśrāddhavat kāryaṃ devaśrāddhaṃ taducyate

Translation

เมื่อถวายภัตตาหารแก่ทวิชะโดยอุทิศแด่เหล่าเทวะ เช่น วิศวเทวะ พึงประกอบให้เป็นไปดังศราทธะประจำวัน พิธีนั้นเรียกว่า เทวศราทธะ

Word by Word

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘dedicating’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• उद्दिश्य: having dedicated (to)
• उद्दिश्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दिश् (धातु) + उद् (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having dedicated/addressed (to)’

• विश्वादीन्: the Viśvedevas and others
• विश्वादीन्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: आदि-तत्पुरुष: विश्वे (देवा:) आदयः येषां तान्; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• द्विजभोजनम्: feeding of Brahmins
• द्विजभोजनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: द्विजानां भोजनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object; resumptive ‘that’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Singular)

• नित्यश्राद्धवत्: as in the daily śrāddha
• नित्यश्राद्धवत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यश्राद्ध + वत् (प्रातिपदिक/तद्धित)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial): ‘like/as in daily śrāddha’

• कार्यम्: to be done; should be performed
• कार्यम्: Vidheyabhava (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय (predicate)

• देवश्राद्धम्: deva-śrāddha (rite for gods)
• देवश्राद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता/Topic-nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: देवानां श्राद्धम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘is said/called’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As prescribed for deva-kārya; performed ‘nitya-śrāddha-vat’ (in the daily-śrāddha manner)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A brāhmaṇa-meal dedicated to Devas (e.g., Viśvedevas) is performed like nitya-śrāddha and is termed deva-śrāddha.

Vedantic Theme: Karma gains sanctity through saṅkalpa (dedication) and correct vidhi; offering transforms into worship by intention.

Application: When giving charity/food, clarify the dedication (purpose/recipient) and follow a consistent, disciplined method.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

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

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: classification of śrāddhas (nitya, naimittika, kāmya; deva-śrāddha); mentions of Viśvedevas in śrāddha context

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Vishvedevas
• Dvijas (Brahmins)

FAQs

What is Deva-śrāddha according to this verse of the Garuda Purana?

It is the rite where one feeds Brahmins while dedicating the offering to the Devas (including the Viśvedevas), performing it with the same discipline and procedure as a daily śrāddha.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and śrāddha practice?

Within the Preta Kanda’s ritual framework, it clarifies a specific śrāddha category—Deva-śrāddha—showing that offerings are not only for Pitṛs but can also be formally dedicated to divine beings through prescribed feeding (dvija-bhojana).

Practical application of this teaching today?

If performing śrāddha-related observances, one may include a Deva-śrāddha by offering food respectfully to qualified Brahmins with a clear devotional dedication to the Devas, following the regular (nitya) śrāddha etiquette and purity rules.