Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

रौरवे चान्धतामिस्त्रे कालसूत्रे च ये गताः / तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय इमं पिण्डं ददाम्यहम्

Transliteration

raurave cāndhatāmistre kālasūtre ca ye gatāḥ / teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya imaṃ piṇḍaṃ dadāmyaham

Translation

Für jene, die in die Höllen Raurava, Andhatāmisra und Kālasūtra gelangt sind, darbringe ich diesen Piṇḍa (Toten-Reisball) zu ihrer Erlösung und Befreiung.

Word by Word

• रौरवे: in Raurava (hell)
• रौरवे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (locative of place)

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

• अन्धतामिस्त्रे: in Andhatāmisra (hell)
• अन्धतामिस्त्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्ध-तामिस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (अन्धं तामिस्रम्)

• कालसूत्रे: in Kālasūtra (hell)
• कालसूत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल-सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कालस्य सूत्रम्)

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

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

• गताः: have gone
• गताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकालिक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्रियार्थे (as predicate)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• उद्धरणार्थाय: for (their) deliverance
• उद्धरणार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्धरण-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (उद्धरणस्य अर्थः)

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• पिण्डम्: rice-ball offering (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

A ritual performer (the offerer of piṇḍa) speaking as part of the piṇḍa-dāna mantra taught in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha context (commonly during ekoddiṣṭa/annual śrāddha; verse functions as saṅkalpa-mantra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karmaphala leads to naraka; śrāddha-piṇḍa is offered as a compassionate aid toward relief/transition.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandhana and anugraha mediated through dharma; the jīva’s journey is conditioned yet responsive to puṇya-transfer (paropakāra).

Application: Perform śrāddha with explicit saṅkalpa for afflicted departed; cultivate responsibility for ancestors and ethical living to avoid papa-leading states.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: naraka (hell realms)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: naraka-nāma descriptions (Raurava/Andhatāmisra/Kālasūtra); Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa: piṇḍa-dāna saṅkalpa formulas for uddhāra

Characters & Entities

• Raurava
• Andhatāmisra
• Kālasūtra

FAQs

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

This verse frames piṇḍa-dāna as an act intended for “uddharaṇa” (uplift/rescue) of departed beings, even if they are undergoing suffering in specific narakas.

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

It assumes post-death consequences can include falling into named hell-realms (narakas) and presents ritual offering as supportive aid for the departed during that condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/ piṇḍa-dāna with sincerity and ethical living, treating the rite as a responsibility toward ancestors and as a reminder to avoid actions that lead to severe karmic suffering.