Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

असंख्ययातनासंस्था ये नीता यमशासनैः / तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय इमं पिण्डं ददाम्यहम्

Transliteration

asaṃkhyayātanāsaṃsthā ye nītā yamaśāsanaiḥ / teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya imaṃ piṇḍaṃ dadāmyaham

Translation

Für jene, die nach Yamas Geboten in unzählige Zustände der Qual getrieben wurden, darbringe ich diesen Piṇḍa zu ihrer Erhebung und Befreiung.

Word by Word

• असंख्ययातनासंस्थाः: those situated in countless torments
• असंख्ययातनासंस्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंख्य-यातना-संस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (असंख्याः यातनाः यस्यां/येषां संस्थाः) — ‘in countless tortures/conditions’

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

• नीताः: have been led
• नीताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु) → नीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• यमशासनैः: by Yama’s commands/punishments
• यमशासनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम-शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यमस्य शासनानि)

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

• उद्धरणार्थाय: for deliverance
• उद्धरणार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्धरण-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

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

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

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

Speaker

A living descendant/offerer (śrāddha performer) speaking as part of the pinda-dāna intention (saṅkalpa-style statement) within the Garuda Purana’s discourse narrated by Lord Vishnu to Garuda.

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha saṅkalpa formula within piṇḍa-dāna sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic justice operates through Yama’s śāsana; dharmic rites (piṇḍa-dāna) are performed to aid those caught in punitive outcomes.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as regulator of karma; compassion expressed through prescribed action rather than mere sentiment; acceptance of moral order with remedial upāyas.

Application: Do prescribed ancestral rites with sincerity; combine with ethical reform and dana as living prayāścitta for family line and self.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: yamaloka punitive system

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yama’s court, messengers, and varieties of yātanā; Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa: piṇḍa-dāna as remedial support across many afterlife conditions

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

This verse frames pinda-dāna as an act intended to uplift and rescue departed beings who are undergoing severe suffering under Yama’s governance.

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

It implies that some beings, due to karmic consequences, enter states of torment connected with Yama’s administration, and that śrāddha offerings like pinda are performed with the intention of easing their condition and aiding their onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with sincerity—especially pinda and śrāddha—as a disciplined remembrance of lineage and a karmically mindful act of compassion toward the departed.