Shloka 124

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

Devanagari script

भूमौ स्थितेषु पिण्डेषु गन्धपुष्पाक्षतान्वितम् / दातव्यं सर्वंविप्रेभ्यो वेदशास्त्रविधानतः

Transliteration

bhūmau sthiteṣu piṇḍeṣu gandhapuṣpākṣatānvitam / dātavyaṃ sarvaṃviprebhyo vedaśāstravidhānataḥ

Translation

When the piṇḍas have been placed upon the ground, everything—accompanied by fragrance, flowers, and unbroken grains of rice (akṣata)—should be duly given to the brāhmaṇas, in accordance with the injunctions of the Vedas and the śāstras.

Word by Word

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्थितेषु: placed, situated
• स्थितेषु: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘स्थित’ = placed; विशेषणम् (पिण्डेषु)

• पिण्डेषु: in/among the rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• गन्धपुष्पाक्षतान्वितम्: accompanied with fragrance, flowers, and unbroken rice
• गन्धपुष्पाक्षतान्वितम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध + पुष्प + अक्षत + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘अन्वित’ = accompanied; तत्पुरुषः (गन्धेन पुष्पैः अक्षतैश्च अन्वितम्)

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → दातव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृत्त्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्) ‘दातव्य’ = to be given/should be given; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (विधेय-भावः)

• सर्वम्: everything, all of it
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘समस्तम्’ (as object of giving)

• विप्रेभ्यः: to the Brahmins
• विप्रेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), बहुवचन

• वेदशास्त्रविधानतः: according to the injunction of Veda and Śāstra
• वेदशास्त्रविधानतः: Hetu/Pramana (According to rule/प्रमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वेद + शास्त्र + विधान + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = ‘according to’; तत्पुरुषः (वेदशास्त्रयोः विधानात्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after piṇḍa-sthāpana (placing piṇḍas)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After placing piṇḍas, one should give accompanying items (with fragrance, flowers, akṣata) to brāhmaṇas strictly per Vedic and śāstric injunction.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra-cakṣuṣā: right action guided by revealed and remembered law; ritual becomes a means of purification and social-sacred harmony.

Application: Perform piṇḍa placement correctly; then distribute the prescribed materials to qualified brāhmaṇas with gandha, puṣpa, and akṣata, following local śāstric procedure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4: piṇḍa-vidhi and subsequent dāna to brāhmaṇas

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas (Vipras)
• Vedas
• Śāstras
• Piṇḍa (piṇḍa-dāna rite)

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa-dāna with gandha, puṣpa, and akṣata in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that piṇḍa offerings are to be made with auspicious accompaniments—fragrance, flowers, and unbroken rice—signifying ritual completeness and reverence, following Vedic-śāstric rules.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s description of post-death rites?

It situates piṇḍa placement as part of the śrāddha sequence and adds that the associated gifts/dakṣiṇā should be offered to brāhmaṇas, indicating that proper transmission of offerings through prescribed agents is integral to preta-related rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with care for correct procedure: make offerings respectfully, include traditional auspicious items where appropriate, and support learned officiants/charitable recipients in a dharmic, rule-guided manner.