Shloka 16

Gayā Śrāddha at Preta-śilā: Universal Piṇḍa-dāna for Ancestors and the Unrescued Dead

Devanagari script

ये बान्धवाबान्धवा वा ये ऽन्यजन्मनि बान्धवाः / ते सर्वेतृप्तिमायान्तु पिण्डदानेन सर्वदा

Transliteration

ye bāndhavābāndhavā vā ye 'nyajanmani bāndhavāḥ / te sarvetṛptimāyāntu piṇḍadānena sarvadā

Translation

ليبلغ الجميع—سواء كانوا أقارب أم غير أقارب، ومن كانوا أقارب في ميلاد آخر—الرضا دائمًا بفضل تقديم «بيṇḍa» (piṇḍa).

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• बान्धवाः: kinsmen
• बान्धवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अबान्धवाः: non-kinsmen
• अबान्धवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नञ्-प्रत्यय (negation)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अन्यजन्मनि: in another birth
• अन्यजन्मनि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (अन्यं जन्म यस्मिन्)

• बान्धवाः: kinsmen
• बान्धवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (ते इति)

• तृप्तिम्: satisfaction
• तृप्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आयान्तु: may (they) come/attain
• आयान्तु: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पिण्डदानेन: by the offering of piṇḍa
• पिण्डदानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य दानम्)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kala (Time adjunct/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śrāddha saṅkalpa and piṇḍa-pradāna

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual compassion is not limited to current social ties; bonds may span births; piṇḍa-dāna can be dedicated broadly for tṛpti.

Vedantic Theme: Interconnectedness under saṃsāra; subtle continuity of saṃskāras and relations across janmas; dharma as universal benevolence.

Application: When performing śrāddha, include prayers for forgotten/unknown relations and even non-relatives; cultivate non-exclusivity in merit-dedication.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-mantras that extend offerings to known/unknown pitṛs and those without performers

FAQs

What is the importance of pinda-dana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that piṇḍa-dāna brings tṛpti (ritual satisfaction) not only to known relatives but also to those connected across previous births, expanding the intended recipients beyond the visible family.

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

By emphasizing tṛpti through piṇḍa offerings, the verse implies that post-death welfare is supported by prescribed rites, which can benefit connected beings (including past-life relations) in the subtle, post-mortem journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/piṇḍa-dāna with an inclusive intention—offering merits for known and unknown relations—cultivating gratitude, responsibility, and continuity of dharmic remembrance.