Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

आवाहनं स्वधाकारो पिण्डाग्नौकरणादिकम् / ब्रह्मचर्यादिनियमा विश्वदेवास्तथैव च

Transliteration

āvāhanaṃ svadhākāro piṇḍāgnaukaraṇādikam / brahmacaryādiniyamā viśvadevāstathaiva ca

Translation

当行迎请（āvāhana）受供者、诵“svadhā”之声、施行自供奉团食（piṇḍa）及诸所规定火仪等起的仪式，并守持梵行（brahmacarya）等诸禁戒，亦当供养毗湿维天众（Viśvedevas）；此等皆须如法具办。

Word by Word

• आवाहनम्: invocation (calling)
• आवाहनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Topic-nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + वह् (धातु) → आवाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वधाकारः: uttering ‘svadhā’
• स्वधाकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Topic-nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वधा + कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वधायाः कारः (उच्चारण/कथन); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पिण्डाग्नौकरणादिकम्: piṇḍa-offering, agnaukaraṇa, etc.
• पिण्डाग्नौकरणादिकम्: Karta (कर्ता/Topic-nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + अग्नौकरण + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व/तत्पुरुष-समुच्चयभाव (list-compound) with आदि: ‘piṇḍa-offering, agnaukaraṇa, etc.’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्मचर्यादिनियमाः: disciplines like celibacy etc.
• ब्रह्मचर्यादिनियमाः: Karta (कर्ता/Topic-nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य + आदि + नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: आदि-तत्पुरुष: ब्रह्मचर्यं आदिः येषां ते नियमाः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विश्वदेवाः: the Viśvedevas
• विश्वदेवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Topic-nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: विश्वे देवाः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय: likewise

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As part of śrāddha performance (including nitya-śrāddha where applicable)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha requires complete performance: āvāhana, svadhā, piṇḍa and fire-acts, self-restraints (brahmacarya etc.), and offerings to Viśvedevas.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline (niyama) and correct form (vidhi) purify the mind; ritual becomes a means of cultivating sattva and responsibility.

Application: When performing śrāddha, follow a checklist: invocation, mantras, offerings, purity restraints, and the Viśvedevas portion; avoid partial/omitted performance when possible.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.45.25 (nitya-śrāddha setup and dedication)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Agni
• Vishvedevas

FAQs

What is the importance of svadhā and invocation (āvāhana) in Garuda Purana Shraddha?

This verse lists āvāhana and the svadhā-formula as core components of śrāddha, indicating that correctly invoking the intended recipients (Pitṛs) and using the proper ancestral offering formula are essential for the rite to be considered duly performed.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, śrāddha elements like piṇḍa offerings and associated rites are presented as supportive dharmic duties of the living, understood to aid the departed and align the family with proper funerary order during the post-death transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha, focus on correctness and restraint: maintain appropriate niyamas (discipline), perform the offerings with reverence (including Viśvedevas), and follow a qualified tradition/teacher so the ritual intent—remembrance, duty, and gratitude to ancestors—remains clear.