Shloka 1

Śrāddha Vidhi: Kāla (Timing), Pātra (Recipient), and Karma (Procedure) for Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and Piṇḍa

Devanagari script

नामाष्टनवतितमो ऽध्यायः याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच / अमावस्याष्टकावृद्धिकृष्णपक्षायनद्वयम्

Transliteration

nāmāṣṭanavatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ yājñavalkya uvāca / amāvasyāṣṭakāvṛddhikṛṣṇapakṣāyanadvayam

Translation

باب ننانوے۔ یاج्ञولکْی نے فرمایا—اماوسیا، اشٹکا شِرادھ، وردھی کرم، کرشن پکش، اور سورج کے دو اَیَن (اُتراین–دکشناین)۔

Word by Word

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha (Naming/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामार्थक/उपपद (particle: ‘named/called’)

• अष्टनवतितमः: eighty-ninth
• अष्टनवतितमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टनवति + तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण (ordinal)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• याज्ञवल्क्यः: Yājñavalkya
• याज्ञवल्क्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्ञवल्क्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अमावस्या: new-moon day
• अमावस्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमावस्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• अष्टका: Aṣṭakā rite/day
• अष्टका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• वृद्धि: Vṛddhi (a śrāddha/rite)
• वृद्धि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• कृष्णपक्ष: dark fortnight
• कृष्णपक्ष: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• अयनद्वयम्: the two ayanas (solstitial courses)
• अयनद्वयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयन + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

Speaker

Yājñavalkya

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Amāvasyā; Aṣṭakā days; Vṛddhi occasions; Kṛṣṇa-pakṣa; both Ayana periods

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy is linked to proper kāla (time): amāvasyā, aṣṭakā, vṛddhi, kṛṣṇa-pakṣa, and the two ayanas are significant markers.

Vedantic Theme: Kāla as a manifestation of cosmic order (ṛta/dharma); aligning action with sacred time supports purification and continuity of lineage duties.

Application: Plan śrāddha and related rites according to calendrical injunctions; cultivate attentiveness to cycles (monthly/seasonal/solar) in spiritual discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic/time-cycle

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa sections: amāvasyā and aṣṭakā prominence; later procedural details typically follow such enumerations

FAQs

What is the importance of Amāvasyā and Aṣṭakā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse flags Amāvasyā (new moon) and Aṣṭakā as key ritual times connected with Pitṛ-related observances, indicating their special relevance for ancestral rites such as śrāddha and offerings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: rather than describing the soul’s journey, it points to the ritual calendar (tithis/periods like kṛṣṇa-pakṣa and ayanas) traditionally used to schedule rites that support the departed through śrāddha and related duties.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this as a reminder to observe ancestral duties thoughtfully—especially around Amāvasyā and other traditional pitṛ-kāla markers—by performing prayers, charity, and (where customary) śrāddha with proper guidance.