Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

यथा गोषु प्रनष्टासु वत्सो विन्दति मातरम् / तथान्नं नयते विप्र जन्तुर्यत्रावतिष्ठते

Transliteration

yathā goṣu pranaṣṭāsu vatso vindati mātaram / tathānnaṃ nayate vipra janturyatrāvatiṣṭhate

Translation

Wie ein Kalb, wenn die Kühe verloren sind, seine Mutter findet, so findet auch, o Brāhmaṇa, die im Śrāddha für die Dahingegangenen dargebrachte Speise das Wesen und erreicht es, wo immer es weilt.

Word by Word

• यथा: as, just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक-सम्बन्धसूचक (comparative/"as")

• गोषु: among the cows
• गोषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• प्रनष्टासु: when (they are) lost
• प्रनष्टासु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नश् (धातु) → प्रनष्ट (कृदन्त, भूतकृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; विशेषण (qualifying goṣu)

• वत्सः: the calf
• वत्सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• विन्दति: finds
• विन्दति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• मातरम्: (its) mother
• मातरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदनुरूपवाचक ("so, in that way")

• अन्नम्: food, offering
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• नयते: leads, brings
• नयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• विप्र: O Brahmin
• विप्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• जन्तुः: a creature, being
• जन्तुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-सम्बन्ध (relative adverb "where")

• अवतिष्ठते: remains, stays
• अवतिष्ठते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha-kāla (appointed time; tithi-based)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha-offered anna (piṇḍa/food) reaches the jīva wherever it abides, by subtle karmic/ritual linkage.

Vedantic Theme: Sūkṣma-sambandha between intention (saṅkalpa), rite, and the subtle body’s experience; unseen causality (adṛṣṭa).

Application: Perform śrāddha with steadiness and correct intention, without doubt about whether the offering ‘reaches’ the departed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections describing piṇḍa reaching preta through subtle means; Garuda Purana discussions on saṅkalpa and offering-transference (anna/udaka) to pitṛs

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of food offerings (anna, piṇḍa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offerings made for the departed are not wasted; they are conveyed to the preta and reach it wherever it abides, affirming the efficacy of śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna.

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

It implies that the departed being may be in varying states or locations during its post-death journey, yet the ritual nourishment offered on its behalf can still reach it, supporting the preta during transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with faith and care—especially food/charity offerings—recognizing them as intended support for the departed and as a discipline of dharma for the living.