Shloka 26

Śrāddha as Trans-realm Nourishment; Pitṛ-Conveyance; Piṇḍa-born Body and the ātivāhika; Bhakti-based Release

Devanagari script

निमन्त्रितास्तु ये विप्राः श्राद्धपूर्वदिनेः खग / प्रविश्य पितरस्तेषु भुक्त्वा यान्ति स्वमालयम्

Transliteration

nimantritāstu ye viprāḥ śrāddhapūrvadineḥ khaga / praviśya pitarasteṣu bhuktvā yānti svamālayam

Translation

يا أيها الطائر (غارودا)، إنَّ البراهمة المدعوين في اليوم السابق لشرادها (Śrāddha) يدخل فيهم البِتْرَ، فيتذوقون القربان، ثم ينصرفون إلى مقامهم الخاص.

Word by Word

• निमन्त्रिताः: invited
• निमन्त्रिताः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; PPP: 'invited'

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• ये: who (those)
• ये: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Relative pronoun, nominative plural

• विप्राः: Brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• श्राद्धपूर्वदिनेः: of the day before the śrāddha
• श्राद्धपूर्वदिनेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation: time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + पूर्व + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (श्राद्धस्य पूर्वः दिनः)

• खग: O Khaga (bird; epithet)
• खग: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• पितरः: the Pitṛs
• पितरः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• तेषु: in them (in those Brahmins)
• तेषु: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Locative plural

• भुक्त्वा: having eaten
• भुक्त्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• यान्ति: they go
• यान्ति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Present indicative 3rd pl

• स्वम्: their own
• स्वम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular; विशेषण

• आलयम्: abode
• आलयम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha-pūrvadina (day before śrāddha)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper invitation and timing establish the channel by which Pitṛs access offerings through brāhmaṇas.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra and niyama (eligibility and rule) in karma; subtle agency operates through prescribed forms.

Application: Invite qualified brāhmaṇas on the prior day as prescribed; treat invitees with purity and honor, recognizing the Pitṛ connection.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.10.25 (Pitṛs partake with brāhmaṇas); Garuda Purana 2.10.27-28 (placement of father/grandfather/great-grandfather around brāhmaṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pitris
• Vipras (Brahmins)
• Shraddha

FAQs

What is the importance of inviting Brahmins before Shraddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that invitations made on the prior day are ritually significant because the Pitṛs are understood to enter the invited Brahmins and thereby receive the śrāddha offering.

How does this verse explain how ancestors receive Shraddha offerings?

It presents the Purāṇic mechanism that the Pitṛs ‘enter’ the invited vipras, partake through them, and then return to their own realm—showing the Brahmins as the ritual conduit for the offering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha with proper preparation—invite qualified priests/Brahmins respectfully in advance, maintain ritual purity and sincerity, and treat the rite as an act of gratitude and remembrance toward one’s ancestors.