Shloka 3
Śrāddha Vidhi: Kāla (Timing), Pātra (Recipient), and Karma (Procedure) for Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and Piṇḍa
श्राद्धं प्रतिरुचिश्चैव श्राद्धकालाः प्रकीर्तिताः / अग्नियः सर्वदेवेषु श्रोत्रियो वेदविद्युवा
śrāddhaṃ pratiruciścaiva śrāddhakālāḥ prakīrtitāḥ / agniyaḥ sarvadeveṣu śrotriyo vedavidyuvā
یوں شِرادھ، استطاعت اور شرعی مناسبت کے مطابق مناسب نذر، اور شِرادھ کے موزوں اوقات بیان کیے گئے۔ تمام دیوتاؤں میں اگنی برتر ہے، اور انسانوں میں وید دان شروتریہ برتر ہے۔
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Śrāddha-kāla (properly prescribed times; verse summarizes that these have been stated).
Concept: Śrāddha must be done with deśa-kāla-yogyatā (proper place/time/fitness) and with śraddhā and capacity-appropriate offerings; Agni is chief among devas as yajña-mukha; the śrotriya is chief among humans as the worthy vessel of dāna/śrāddha.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma upheld through yajña and right knowledge (śruti-prāmāṇya); purity of means and recipient (pātra) refines karma-phala.
Application: Perform śrāddha at prescribed times; give within means without ostentation; prioritize qualified Veda-learned brāhmaṇas and maintain fire/Agni reverence in rites.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: household/ritual space
Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha sections on śrāddha-kāla, pātra-lakṣaṇa (worthy recipients), and agni-prādhānya in offerings (contextual internal continuity)
FAQs
This verse emphasizes that Śrāddha must be performed at prescribed times; correct timing is treated as part of the rite’s validity and dharmic correctness.
It establishes ritual hierarchy: Agni is central among deities for offerings, and a śrotriya (Veda-trained, properly qualified priest) is central among humans for correctly conducting Vedic rites like Śrāddha.
When performing Śrāddha, follow traditional calendrical guidance for timing and engage a properly trained, Veda-competent priest to maintain ritual integrity.