Shloka 11

Gayā Śrāddha at Preta-śilā: Universal Piṇḍa-dāna for Ancestors and the Unrescued Dead

Devanagari script

असिपत्रवने घोरे कंभीपाके च ये गताः / तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय इं पिण्डं ददाम्यहम्

Transliteration

asipatravane ghore kaṃbhīpāke ca ye gatāḥ / teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya iṃ piṇḍaṃ dadāmyaham

Translation

For those who have gone to the dreadful Asipatravana and to Kambhīpāka, I offer this piṇḍa for their redemption and deliverance.

Word by Word

• असिपत्रवने: in the Asipatravana (forest of sword-leaves)
• असिपत्रवने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि-पत्र-वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (असिना तुल्यानि पत्राणि यस्मिन् वने)

• घोरे: terrible
• घोरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying असिपत्रवने)

• कंभीपाके: in Kaṃbhīpāka (hell)
• कंभीपाके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंभीपाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; नरकनाम (name of hell)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• गताः: have gone
• गताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• उद्धरणार्थाय: for deliverance
• उद्धरणार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्धरण-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• इम्: this
• इम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वैदिक/प्राकृत-रूप (इमम् इत्यर्थे)

• पिण्डम्: piṇḍa offering
• पिण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

A ritual declarant (the karta/performer of śrāddha or piṇḍa-dāna), within the Vishnu–Garuda teaching context

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha saṅkalpa usage (often ekoddiṣṭa/annual śrāddha context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific karmas yield specific naraka experiences; compassionate rites can support the departed’s alleviation.

Vedantic Theme: Moral causality (ṛta/dharma) governing saṃsāra; dharmic action by the living as supportive upāya within the karmic order.

Application: Use śrāddha as ethical remembrance; pair ritual with dana and personal restraint to counteract harmful tendencies that lead to ‘ghora’ outcomes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: naraka (hell realms)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Asipatravana and Kumbhīpāka/Kambhīpāka naraka descriptions and causes; Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa: piṇḍa offerings for various preta/naraka states

Characters & Entities

• Asipatravana
• Kambhīpāka
• Piṇḍa (pinda-dāna)

FAQs

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

This verse frames piṇḍa-dāna as an intentional offering meant to aid and uplift even those suffering in specific narakas, expressing a rescue-oriented purpose (uddharaṇa) through śrāddha rites.

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

By naming Asipatravana and Kambhīpāka, it assumes that some souls experience punitive realms due to karma, and indicates that prescribed rites by the living are directed toward their relief.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/piṇḍa offerings with clear sankalpa (stated intention) for the welfare of departed relatives, coupled with ethical living to avoid karmic causes associated with suffering after death.