Shloka 30

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

पित्रुद्देशेन यः पुत्त्रैर्धनं विप्रकरे ऽर्पितम् / आत्मानं सधनं तेन चक्रे पुत्रप्रपौत्रकैः

Transliteration

pitruddeśena yaḥ puttrairdhanaṃ viprakare 'rpitam / ātmānaṃ sadhanaṃ tena cakre putraprapautrakaiḥ

Translation

Wenn die Söhne zum Gedenken an die Pitṛs einem würdigen Brāhmaṇa Vermögen darbringen, so wird durch diese Tat der Verstorbene wohlhabend gemacht, mit Besitz versehen—zusammen mit Söhnen und Enkeln.

Word by Word

• pitruddeśena: aiming at/for the sake of the father
• pitruddeśena: Hetu (Cause/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitruddeśa (पित्रुद्देश)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• yaḥ: who (relative pronoun)
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• puttraiḥ: by sons
• puttraiḥ: Karta (Agent in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (पुत्र)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• dhanam: wealth
• dhanam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (धन)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• viprakare: in the hand of a Brahmin
• viprakare: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viprakara (विप्रकर)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• arpitam: offered/given
• arpitam: Visheshana/Kriya
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arpita (अर्पित)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; Past Passive Participle

• ātmānam: himself
• ātmānam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (आत्मन्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sadhanam: wealthy/meritorious
• sadhanam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadhana (सधन)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tena: by that (act/wealth)
• tena: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• cakre: made/rendered
• cakre: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Lit (Perfect), Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular

• putraprapautrakaiḥ: by sons and grandsons
• putraprapautrakaiḥ: Karta (Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putraprapautraka (पुत्रप्रपौत्रक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed by sons as ancestor-directed giving, typically aligned with śrāddha occasions (death anniversary/śrāddha days) though not specified here.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Offerings made by sons to a worthy brāhmaṇa in the name of the Pitṛs confer prosperity and support upon the departed, with benefits resonating through descendants.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s transmissible support via ritual intention (saṅkalpa) and relational dharma; pitṛ-ṛṇa (debt to ancestors) within gṛhastha-dharma; saṃsāric continuity of obligation.

Application: Perform ancestor-directed giving with proper saṅkalpa and worthy recipients; maintain family remembrance practices; integrate charity into memorial observances.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-gift setting (to a worthy brāhmaṇa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śrāddha and pitṛ-uplift through dāna to brāhmaṇas; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: dependence of preta/pitṛ on survivors’ rites and gifts

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Brahmin (Vipra)
• Sons (Putras)
• Grandsons/Descendants (Prapautras)

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛ-uddeśa dāna (charity for ancestors) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that wealth offered by sons to a worthy Brahmin with the intention of benefiting the Pitṛs directly results in prosperity for the departed and supports the well-being of the lineage.

How does this verse explain the benefit to the soul after death?

It teaches that merit generated through properly intentioned ancestral charity (dāna for Pitṛs) translates into the departed being 'made wealthy'—i.e., gaining supportive resources and improved condition in the post-death state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and related ancestral rites with sincere intention, and give appropriate charity (especially to qualified recipients) as a disciplined act of dharma rather than mere display.