Shloka 15

Devanagari script

वस्त्राणि मुकुटं घण्टा चामरं प्रेक्षणीयकम् / अलङ्कारादिकं पिण्डमन्नदानादिकं तथा

Transliteration

vastrāṇi mukuṭaṃ ghaṇṭā cāmaraṃ prekṣaṇīyakam / alaṅkārādikaṃ piṇḍamannadānādikaṃ tathā

Translation

Offer clothes, a crown, a bell, a cāmara (fly-whisk), and other items fit to be presented; likewise ornaments, the piṇḍa (ritual rice-ball for the departed), and acts such as giving food in charity.

Word by Word

• वस्त्राणि: garments
• वस्त्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• मुकुटम्: crown
• मुकुटम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुकुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• घण्टा: bell
• घण्टा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घण्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (पाठानुसार); कर्मपद

• चामरम्: yak-tail fan (chowrie)
• चामरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चामर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रेक्षणीयकम्: a thing fit to be looked at (spectacle/ornament for viewing)
• प्रेक्षणीयकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + ईक्ष् (धातु) + अनीयर्/णीय (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (णीयत्-अर्थ/gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण/नामवत् (something to be seen/for viewing)

• अलङ्कारादिकम्: ornaments and the like
• अलङ्कारादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलङ्कार + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समुच्चयार्थ ("ornaments etc.")

• पिण्डम्: rice-ball offering (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अन्नदानादिकम्: food-donation and the like
• अन्नदानादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्नदान + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समुच्चयार्थ ("food-giving etc.")

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (also/likewise)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotion is not only ornamented worship (vastra, mukuta, ghanta, cāmara) but also extends to piṇḍa and annadāna—care for ancestors and society.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: offerings and charity as īśvara-arpana that purify and support sattva, preparing for higher knowledge/bhakti.

Application: Pair worship with giving: donate food, support community meals; remember ancestors with gratitude; keep ritual acts aligned with compassion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: temple/household shrine and ritual ground (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections (general): piṇḍa-dāna as ancestral support; Garuda Purana 1.86.14 (upacāras); Garuda Purana 1.86.16 (fruits)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

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

This verse groups piṇḍa (ritual offering) with annadāna (food charity), indicating that both ritual nourishment and charitable giving are key supports within śrāddha-related duties toward the departed.

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

By listing piṇḍa and donations among prescribed acts, it implies that post-death welfare is linked to rites performed by the living—offerings and charity are treated as meaningful aids in the departed’s onward journey and ancestral appeasement.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform remembrance rites with sincerity, and pair them with real-world compassion—especially food charity—so ritual observance is joined to ethical giving.