Shloka 112

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

न पिण्डदानं कर्तव्यं प्रमादाच्चेत्करोति हि / नोपतिष्ठति तत्सर्वमन्तरिक्षे विनश्यति

Transliteration

na piṇḍadānaṃ kartavyaṃ pramādāccetkaroti hi / nopatiṣṭhati tatsarvamantarikṣe vinaśyati

Translation

The piṇḍa-offering (piṇḍa-dāna) should not be performed carelessly; for when done through negligence it does not reach the intended recipient. All of it perishes in the mid-space (antarikṣa), the intermediate realm.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• पिण्डदानम्: offering of the funeral rice-ball (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य दानम्)

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done; obligatory
• कर्तव्यम्: Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (कर्तव्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (obligatory)

• प्रमादात्: out of negligence
• प्रमादात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• करोति: does; performs
• करोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• उपतिष्ठति: is available; reaches; is present
• उपतिष्ठति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वम्: all; entire
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of तत्)

• अन्तरिक्षे: in mid-air; in the intermediate space
• अन्तरिक्षे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• विनश्यति: perishes; is lost
• विनश्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śrāddha performance; emphasis on careful execution at the time of offering

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual acts bear fruit only when performed with attentiveness and proper method; negligence nullifies the intended transmission to the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala depends on saṅkalpa, śraddhā, and niyama; outer act without inner and procedural correctness becomes fruitless.

Application: Perform piṇḍa-dāna with trained guidance, correct mantras/saṅkalpa, purity, and focused mind; avoid rushing, distraction, or casualness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: intermediate space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-prakaraṇa passages emphasizing śraddhā and niyama in piṇḍa/tarpaṇa; Adjacent verses 2.4.113–116 on Nārāyaṇa-bali and śauca as prerequisites

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta
• Pitris

FAQs

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

This verse stresses that piṇḍa-dāna is effective only when done attentively and correctly; negligence makes the offering fail to reach the departed and thus become fruitless.

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

It implies an “intermediate space” (antarīkṣa) connected with the preta-condition, where improperly performed offerings do not arrive to support the departed and instead are wasted.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform memorial rites with care—right intention, proper procedure, and respect—rather than treating them as a rushed formality; conscientious action is presented as essential for ritual efficacy.