Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

उद्धृतेष्वन्नपिण्डेषु भुवि ये चान्नकाङ्क्षिणः / तैरेवाप्यायनं तेषां ये मनुष्यत्वमागताः

Transliteration

uddhṛteṣvannapiṇḍeṣu bhuvi ye cānnakāṅkṣiṇaḥ / tairevāpyāyanaṃ teṣāṃ ye manuṣyatvamāgatāḥ

Translation

Wenn die Speise-Piṇḍas (Reisbällchen) auf der Erde erhoben und dargebracht werden, werden jene Wesen, die nach Nahrung verlangen, durch eben diese Gaben genährt—nämlich die, welche zur menschlichen Geburt gelangt sind.

Word by Word

• उद्धृतेषु: when (they are) lifted/removed
• उद्धृतेषु: Adhikarana (Locative context)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्+हृ (धातु) → उद्धृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative), बहुवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त)

• अन्नपिण्डेषु: in the rice-balls (food-balls)
• अन्नपिण्डेषु: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः: अन्नस्य पिण्डाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भूमि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्धसूचकं

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• अन्नकाङ्क्षिणः: desirers of food
• अन्नकाङ्क्षिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + काङ्क्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः: अन्नं काङ्क्षन्ति ये (उपपद-तत्पुरुषः)

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), बहुवचनम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्, अवधारणे

• आप्यायनम्: nourishment / satisfaction
• आप्यायनम्: Karma (Object/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ+प्यै (धातु) → आप्यायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्धसूचकं

• मनुष्यत्वम्: human state / humanity
• मनुष्यत्वम्: Karma (Object/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• आगताः: having attained / having come to
• आगताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ+गम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Piṇḍa offerings nourish beings who crave food; ritual acts on earth have trans-embodied effects, supporting those connected through karma and lineage, including those who have attained human birth.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle causality (adṛṣṭa) and continuity of the jīva across embodiments; dharma as a bridge between visible action and invisible result.

Application: Offer piṇḍas with attention and correctness; treat śrāddha as meaningful support for ancestors/connected beings rather than mere formality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual ground/courtyard

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.10.66 (satisfaction through offerings); Garuda Purana 2.10.68 (do not scatter food/water; purity); Garuda Purana 2.10.69 (lineage members in other castes nourished)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pitris

FAQs

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

This verse states that the offered food-balls (piṇḍas) directly become nourishment for beings who crave food after death, indicating piṇḍa-dāna as a practical support to the departed’s condition.

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

It implies an intermediate condition where beings experience hunger and depend on ritual offerings; śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna on earth provide subtle nourishment that aids them in their post-death transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with sincerity—offer food and charity in the name of the departed—while also cultivating compassion and responsibility toward family duties connected with śrāddha.