Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

आब्राह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तं जगत्प्रीणाति मानवः / अन्नप्रकिरणं यत्तु मनुष्यैः क्रियते भुवि

Transliteration

ābrāhmastambaparyantaṃ jagatprīṇāti mānavaḥ / annaprakiraṇaṃ yattu manuṣyaiḥ kriyate bhuvi

Translation

Durch das Ausstreuen von Speise erfreut der Mensch die ganze Welt—von Brahmā bis hin zu einem Grashalm—wenn die Menschen auf Erden diese Speisegabe darbringen.

Word by Word

• आब्राह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तम्: up to (from Brahmā down to a blade of grass)
• आब्राह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तम्: Desha/Avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ- + ब्राह्म-स्तम्ब-पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (अव्ययार्थे ‘आ’ उपसर्गः—‘पर्यन्तम्’ सहितम्)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रीणाति: pleases/satisfies
• प्रीणाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रीण् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मानवः: a human
• मानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अन्नप्रकिरणम्: the scattering of food
• अन्नप्रकिरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न-प्रकिरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अन्नस्य प्रकिरणम्)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Avyaya (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• मनुष्यैः: by humans
• मनुष्यैः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (कर्तृ/करण), बहुवचन

• क्रियते: is done
• क्रियते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भूमि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As part of śrāddha-associated bali/anna offerings on the ritual day

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anna-dāna/anna-prakīraṇa gladdens and nourishes the entire hierarchy of beings, indicating the universality of offering.

Vedantic Theme: Unity of life supported by yajña/dāna; the macrocosm is served through microcosmic acts of giving.

Application: Offer food respectfully (to beings seen and unseen), avoid waste, and cultivate daily generosity—feeding animals/birds and supporting the needy as an extension of śrāddha spirit.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-ground/outdoors

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha passages praising anna-dāna and tarpaṇa as universally beneficial

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• All beings (jagat)
• Grass/vegetation (stamba)

FAQs

What is the importance of anna-prakīraṇa (scattering food) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that distributing/scattering food is a universally beneficial act that pleases the entire range of beings—from the highest (Brahmā) to the smallest life-forms—making it a powerful dharmic charity associated with ritual merit.

How does this verse relate to death rituals like śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, food-offerings and acts of feeding are emphasized as supportive rites; anna-prakīraṇa functions as a broad, compassionate offering that extends benefit beyond the immediate family rite, aligning with śrāddha’s intent of nourishment and appeasement.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice anna-dāna: feed people, animals, and birds, or set aside food respectfully as an offering—cultivating compassion and reducing harm while performing a simple, high-merit act of dharma.