Shloka 70

Gayā-kṣetra and Phalgu Tīrtha: Sites, Rites, and the Liberation of the Pitṛs

Devanagari script

यावन्तो ज्ञातयः पित्र्या बान्धवाः सुहृदस्तथा / तेभ्यो व्यासगयाभूमौ पिण्डो देयो विधानतः

Transliteration

yāvanto jñātayaḥ pitryā bāndhavāḥ suhṛdastathā / tebhyo vyāsagayābhūmau piṇḍo deyo vidhānataḥ

Translation

Allen Verwandten väterlicherseits—Angehörigen, Familienverbundenen und Wohlgesinnten—soll man nach vorgeschriebener Ordnung piṇḍa-Gaben darbringen, auf dem heiligen Boden von Vyāsa-Gayā.

Word by Word

• यावन्तः: as many as
• यावन्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक-विशेषण

• ज्ञातयः: kinsmen
• ज्ञातयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• पित्र्याः: paternal (relatives)
• पित्र्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण (to ज्ञातयः) — ‘paternal’

• बान्धवाः: relations; kinsfolk
• बान्धवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• सुहृदः: friends; well-wishers
• सुहृदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise; and so
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: likewise)

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• व्यासगयाभूमौ: on the Gayā ground associated with Vyāsa
• व्यासगयाभूमौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + गया (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; समासः—(व्यासस्य) गयाभूमिः / व्यासेन प्रसिद्धा गयाभूमिः (सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष)

• पिण्डः: piṇḍa offering (rice-ball)
• पिण्डः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• देयः: should be given
• देयः: Vidhana (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देय (कृदन्त; √दा धातु, यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण—‘to be given’ (gerundive)

• विधानतः: according to rule
• विधानतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During Gayā śrāddha, especially when integrating offerings across the paternal lineage and related kin categories as per vidhi.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha at Gayā should be expansive: offer piṇḍas not only to direct ancestors but to all paternal-side relations and well-wishers, following prescribed procedure.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as social-spiritual continuity; gratitude (ṛṇa) to lineage and community; widening of compassion beyond narrow self-interest.

Application: When performing ancestral rites, remember extended family and those who supported the family line; keep a careful list and perform offerings systematically.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/kshetra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana lists of eligible recipients in śrāddha (pitṛ-gaṇa, relatives); Gayā-mahātmya passages on comprehensive piṇḍa-dāna

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Paternal relatives
• Vyasa-Gaya
• Pinda (piṇḍa)

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa-dāna for paternal relatives in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that piṇḍa offerings are not only for direct ancestors but should also be extended—by proper rite—to all paternal-side kin and well-wishers, supporting the broader pitṛ-related obligations of śrāddha.

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

In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, piṇḍa-dāna is part of the post-death rites that aid the departed and maintain dharmic continuity with the pitṛs; the verse highlights correct ritual distribution to the wider paternal network.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna with attention to prescribed procedure (vidhi), remembering obligations to the paternal lineage and extended relations, ideally at recognized tīrthas when feasible.