Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 108

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

अष्टकासु कृतं श्राद्धममावास्यादिने तथा / मघासु पितृपर्वाणि यानियानि च तेषु च

Transliteration

aṣṭakāsu kṛtaṃ śrāddhamamāvāsyādine tathā / maghāsu pitṛparvāṇi yāniyāni ca teṣu ca

Translation

Lễ Śrāddha cử hành vào các ngày Aṣṭakā, cũng như lễ làm vào ngày Amāvāsyā (trăng non), và các dịp thánh lễ dành cho tổ tiên (pitṛ-parvan) rơi vào chòm sao Maghā—tất cả những nghi lễ ấy đều phải được tuân hành đúng theo pháp tắc.

Word by Word

• अष्टकासु: on the Aṣṭakā days
• अष्टकासु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; locative plural

• कृतम्: done/performed
• कृतम्: कर्मणि-भाव (Karmabhāva/PPP predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; agrees with श्राद्धम्

• श्राद्धम्: Śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; thing performed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular

• अमावास्या-दिने: on the new-moon day
• अमावास्या-दिने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमावास्या (प्रातिपदिक) + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): अमावास्यायाः दिनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• मघासु: in (the) Maghā (asterism)
• मघासु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मघा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; locative plural (in the Maghā nakṣatra days)

• पितृ-पर्वाणि: ancestral observance-days
• पितृ-पर्वाणि: कर्म (Karma/Object; items referred to)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: पितॄणां पर्वाणि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• यानि: which
• यानि: विशेषण (Qualifier of पर्वाणि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; relative pronoun

• यानि: whatever (all that)
• यानि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; repetition for emphasis/distribution

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• तेषु: among/in those
• तेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; locative plural

• च: also/and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चय)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Aṣṭakā days; Amāvāsyā; Maghā nakṣatra pitṛ-parvans (as applicable)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla-niyama in śrāddha: specific tithis/nakṣatras are prescribed for pitṛ-tarpaṇa and śrāddha efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Ṛta/dharma as cosmic order expressed through time; honoring pitṛs sustains loka-saṅgraha.

Application: Maintain a ritual calendar: observe Aṣṭakā śrāddhas, Amāvāsyā śrāddha, and Maghā pitṛ-parvans with appropriate saṃkalpa and offerings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual setting; lunar/stellar time-marker

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34 (Śrāddha-kāṇḍa context: tithi/nakṣatra-based śrāddha and pitṛ-parva listings)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of Aṣṭakā and Amāvāsyā Śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Aṣṭakā days and Amāvāsyā as especially appropriate times for performing śrāddha, indicating their recognized efficacy for honoring and supporting the Pitṛs.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly: by emphasizing timely pitṛ-rites (śrāddha and pitṛ-parvans), it supports the departed through prescribed post-death observances, a key theme of the Preta Kanda’s guidance for the deceased’s welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one observes ancestral rites, prioritize Amāvāsyā and traditional Aṣṭakā/pitṛ-occasions (including those connected with Maghā) for śrāddha or tarpaṇa, following one’s family tradition and a qualified priest’s calendar.