Shloka 34

Nāndīmukha-śrāddha (Prosperity Rites), Preta-kriyā, Aśauca, Ekoddiṣṭa, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Framework

Devanagari script

आदाहवार्यायुधादिस्पर्शाद्यन्तास् तु याः क्रियाः ताः पूर्वा मध्यमा मासि मास्य् एकोद्दिष्टसंज्ञिताः

Transliteration

ādāhavāryāyudhādisparśādyantās tu yāḥ kriyāḥ tāḥ pūrvā madhyamā māsi māsy ekoddiṣṭasaṃjñitāḥ

Translation

凡从最初以火、水及法器等作净触之礼起，直至终了诸行的仪式，称为“先行之礼”。若在月之前段或中段举行，则于该月称为“Ekoddiṣṭa（独指祭）”，即专为一位特定亡灵而设之祭。

Word by Word

• आदाहवार्यायुधादिस्पर्शाद्यन्ताः: beginning with cremation etc. and ending with the final touches
• आदाहवार्यायुधादिस्पर्शाद्यन्ताः: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदाह-वारि-आयुध-आदि-स्पर्श-आदि-अन्त (प्रातिपदिक; आदाह + वारि + आयुध + आदि + स्पर्श + आदि + अन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपदसमास-विशेषण — क्रियाः; "having beginning with cremation and ending with water/weapon etc. touch" (ritual sequence marker)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अवधारण (particle) — "but/indeed"

• याः: which
• याः: Visheshana (Relative pronoun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक — क्रियाः

• क्रियाः: rites
• क्रियाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विषय

• ताः: those
• ताः: Visheshana (Demonstrative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; निर्देश — क्रियाः

• पूर्वाः: are the initial (rites)
• पूर्वाः: Predicate (Visheshana)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेयविशेषण — ताः (क्रियाः)

• मध्यमाः: (and) the intermediate (rites)
• मध्यमाः: Predicate (Visheshana)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेयविशेषण (elliptic)

• मासि: in a month
• मासि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण — "in a month"

• मासि: month by month
• मासि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण; पुनरुक्ति — "month by month / in the month"

• एकोद्दिष्टसंज्ञिताः: called ‘ekoddiṣṭa’
• एकोद्दिष्टसंज्ञिताः: Predicate (Naming/संज्ञा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक-उद्दिष्ट-संज्ञित (प्रातिपदिक; एक + उद्दिष्ट + संज्ञित)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) in संज्ञित; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेयविशेषण — (क्रियाः) "called ekoddiṣṭa"

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Definition and timing of ekoddiṣṭa rites within the sequence of funerary actions (from consecratory touches to concluding observances)

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: technical

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The ekoddiṣṭa is the set of funerary acts—from initial consecrations with fire, water, and implements to their completion—performed at prescribed times within the month for a single specified departed spirit.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When performing memorial rites, be attentive to correct intention (one recipient), timing, and completeness rather than treating ritual as a vague formality.

Vishishtadvaita: Ritual intentionality (saṅkalpa) directed to a specific jīva reflects the Viśiṣṭādvaita view of real individual selves sustained within Bhagavān’s order.

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

What is the significance of Ekoddiṣṭa in the Vishnu Purana?

It designates a śrāddha aimed at one specifically intended departed soul, defined here by its complete ritual sequence and its performance timing within the month.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the structure of these rites?

He frames them as a full continuum—from the opening consecratory contacts involving fire, water, and implements, through to the concluding acts—then assigns the technical name based on when in the month they are performed.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in ritual instruction, the Purāṇa presents dharma and ancestral offerings as part of the ordered universe sustained by Vishnu, where correct rite and right time participate in maintaining cosmic and social harmony.