Shloka 40

Akalamṛtyu-kāraṇa and Bāla Antyeṣṭi: Age-graded Funeral Rites, Śrāddha Types, and Sonship Duties

Devanagari script

तीर्थे कुर्युः पितृश्राद्धं दानं (मासं) दद्युर्द्विजन्मने / संगृहीतसुतो भूत्वा पाकं वा यः प्रयच्छति

Transliteration

tīrthe kuryuḥ pitṛśrāddhaṃ dānaṃ (māsaṃ) dadyurdvijanmane / saṃgṛhītasuto bhūtvā pākaṃ vā yaḥ prayacchati

Translation

An einem Tīrtha soll man das Śrāddha für die Ahnen vollziehen und Almosen geben – selbst monatlich – an einen Dvija (Brāhmaṇa). Und wer als angenommener Sohn eine gekochte Speise als Dienst und Opfergabe darbringt, erlangt ebenfalls Verdienst.

Word by Word

• तीर्थे: at a sacred place
• तीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• कुर्युः: should perform
• कुर्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पितृश्राद्धम्: ancestral śrāddha rite
• पितृश्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पितॄणां श्राद्धम्)

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• मासम्: a month (monthly)
• मासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; पाठान्तर/कोष्ठकस्थ

• दद्युः: should give
• दद्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विजन्मने: to a twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विजन्मने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (द्विजस्य जन्म) → द्विजन्मन् = द्विज (ब्राह्मण)

• संगृहीतसुतः: an adopted/accepted son
• संगृहीतसुतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + ग्रह् (धातु) → संगृहीत (क्त, कृदन्त) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (संगृहीतः सुतः)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भू (धातु) → भूत्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having become)

• पाकम्: cooked food/meal
• पाकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Relative subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक

• प्रयच्छति: gives/offers
• प्रयच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + यम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At a tīrtha; dāna recommended monthly (māsa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-śrāddha at tīrtha, regular dāna, and feeding/service as an accepted son generate puṇya and support ancestral satisfaction.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: sanctifying action through right intention and prescribed duty; pitṛ-ṛṇa repayment within pravṛtti-mārga.

Application: Perform śrāddha with care at appropriate sacred places; maintain consistent charity (monthly or regular); offer food respectfully to qualified recipients and elders/priests.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/river ford/holy site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Śrāddha-kalpa sections prescribing tīrtha-śrāddha and dāna (thematic); Garuda Purana: Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and piṇḍa-dāna efficacy statements (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Dvija (Brahmana)
• Tirtha

FAQs

What is the importance of performing Pitṛ-śrāddha at a tīrtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that śrāddha done at a tīrtha, along with charity, is a highly meritorious way to honor and support the ancestors (Pitṛs) and fulfill post-death dharma.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and obligations after a death?

It highlights core preta/pitṛ duties—śrāddha, regular dāna to a qualified dvija, and feeding offerings—acts understood to aid the departed and uphold the family’s ritual responsibility.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha with sincerity (especially at sacred places when possible), support learned/ethical priests or Brahmanas through regular charity, and include food-offering/feeding as a concrete act of remembrance and dharma.