Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 17

Sapindīkaraṇa: Timing, Eligibility, Gotra Rules, and Yearlong Śrāddha

with Vṛṣotsarga and Ghaṭa-dāna

Devanagari script

तत्रतत्र त्रयं कार्यमन्यथा पितृघातकः / त्रिभिः कुर्यादशक्तश्च पार्वणं मुनिनोदितम्

Transliteration

tatratatra trayaṃ kāryamanyathā pitṛghātakaḥ / tribhiḥ kuryādaśaktaśca pārvaṇaṃ muninoditam

Translation

ہر مقررہ موقع پر تین گونہ پِنڈ/نذر ادا کرنا چاہیے؛ ورنہ پِتروں کے حق میں قاتل کا گناہ لگتا ہے۔ اگر طاقت نہ ہو تب بھی مُنیوں کے حکم کے مطابق تین نذروں کے ساتھ پارون شرادھ کرے۔

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (there)

• तत्र: in each case
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्त-अव्यय (distributive: ‘in each such place/occasion’)

• त्रयम्: three (things/acts)
• त्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्याशब्दः

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be done’

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Hetu/Condition (Condition/हेतु-निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (otherwise)

• पितृघातकः: a slayer of ancestors (i.e., guilty of harming the pitṛs)
• पितृघातकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + घातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पितॄणां घातकः)

• त्रिभिः: with three (items/acts)
• त्रिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/त्रिलिङ्ग-प्रयोग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याशब्दः

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अशक्तः: one who is unable
• अशक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- + शक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (असमर्थः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

• पार्वणम्: the pārvaṇa śrāddha (rite)
• पार्वणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मुनिना: by the sage
• मुनिना: Karana (Agent/Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• उदितम्: enjoined/said
• उदितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + इ (धातु) → उदित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/uttered’ (qualifies पार्वणम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At each prescribed śrāddha occasion; minimum three offerings when unable

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: At each occasion, perform the prescribed threefold offering; neglect incurs the grave sin of harming ancestors; if incapable, at least perform the pārvaṇa-śrāddha with three offerings as sages teach.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma balances niyama (strict rule) with anukampā (allowance for incapacity) while preserving intent; karma accrues from omission as well as commission.

Application: Maintain the minimum required structure (three offerings) even under constraints; do not abandon śrāddha due to inability to perform elaborate rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: household/śrāddha-venue

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.26.18 (pārvaṇa rationale amid date uncertainty); Garuda Purana 2.26.14-16 (sapīṇḍīkaraṇa and post-incorporation offerings)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Munis

FAQs

What is the importance of performing the 'threefold' act mentioned in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse frames the threefold offering as a mandatory component of Pitṛ-rites; neglecting it is treated as grave harm to the ancestors, while performing at least the three is presented as a valid minimum.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and care for the departed?

In the Preta Kanda context, ancestral rites sustain and honor the departed lineage; this verse emphasizes that even limited capacity does not excuse total neglect—one should complete the essential minimum (three offerings) in the pārvaṇa-śrāddha mode.

Practical application of this teaching today for someone who cannot do elaborate rites?

Do not abandon Pitṛ-observances entirely; perform a simplified, sincere śrāddha/pārvaṇa with the essential three offerings as a minimum, following learned guidance and one’s capacity.