Shloka 16

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

पुत्त्रेण दत्ते ते सर्वे गोत्रिणो हितबान्धवाः / स्वजात्यैः परजात्यैश्च देयो नद्यां जलाञ्जलिः

Transliteration

puttreṇa datte te sarve gotriṇo hitabāndhavāḥ / svajātyaiḥ parajātyaiśca deyo nadyāṃ jalāñjaliḥ

Translation

Wenn der Sohn die vorgeschriebene Gabe darbringt, werden alle Angehörigen der Gotra und die wohlgesinnten Verwandten dadurch begünstigt. Darum soll man im Fluss Wasserlibationen (jalāñjali) darbringen, für die eigene Gemeinschaft wie auch für andere.

Word by Word

• putreṇa: by the son
• putreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• datte: has given
• datte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada; "has given" (contextual)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; pronoun "they"

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with gotriṇaḥ/hitabāndhavāḥ

• gotriṇaḥ: kinsmen of the same lineage
• gotriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gotrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• hita-bāndhavāḥ: well-wishing relatives
• hita-bāndhavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + bāndhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; karmadhāraya: "beneficial/close relatives"

• sva-jātyaiḥ: with one’s own group
• sva-jātyaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; tatpuruṣa: sva-jāti = "one's own caste/group"; instrumental of association

• para-jātyaiḥ: with other groups
• para-jātyaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; "with other groups"

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• deyaḥ: should be given
• deyaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deya (कृदन्त; √dā दा धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; gerundive (कर्तव्य) "to be given"; agrees with jalāñjaliḥ

• nadyām: in the river
• nadyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• jala-añjaliḥ: a handful of water
• jala-añjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: jalasya añjaliḥ = "handful of water"; subject of deyaḥ

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The son’s offerings benefit not only the departed but also gotra members and well-wishers; water-libations in a river extend merit/support broadly, beyond one’s own jāti.

Vedantic Theme: Interconnectedness under karma and ṛṇa (debts)—pitṛ-ṛṇa and social bonds; dharma radiating outward.

Application: Perform river-side jalāñjali with inclusive intention—remember clan, relatives, and even non-kin; cultivate gratitude and reconciliation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: river/ford (tīrtha-like ritual site)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: son’s role (putra-dharma) in pitṛ-kārya; communal benefit of śrāddha/udaka (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of jalāñjali (water libation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents jalāñjali as a dharmic act that benefits the departed and the wider circle of one’s lineage and relatives when performed properly, especially as part of śrāddha/tarpaṇa observances.

How does this verse explain the role of the son in post-death rites?

It emphasizes that offerings made by the son have a direct beneficial effect on gotra members and well-wishing relatives, highlighting the traditional responsibility of the पुत्र (son) in ancestral rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform tarpana or memorial water-offerings with sincerity (as per one’s tradition) and cultivate an inclusive intention—praying for the welfare of ancestors and relatives broadly, not only one’s immediate family.