Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

आवाहनार्चन चैव पान्त्रालम्भावगाहने / भवेद्दानान्नसङ्कल्पः पिण्डदानं सदा भवेत्

Transliteration

āvāhanārcana caiva pāntrālambhāvagāhane / bhaveddānānnasaṅkalpaḥ piṇḍadānaṃ sadā bhavet

Translation

At the rites of invocation (āvāhana) and worship (arcana), and during the bathing/immersion performed in the funeral observances, one should make the saṅkalpa to give food in charity; and the offering of piṇḍas—rice-balls for the departed—should always be performed.

Word by Word

• आवाहन-अर्चनम्: invocation and worship
• आवाहन-अर्चनम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवाहन (प्रातिपदिक; आ-√वह्, ल्युट्) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक; √अर्च्, ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (āvāhana and arcana)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphasis/only)

• पान्त्र-आलम्भ-अवगाहने: in (the rites of) pāntra, touching/raising, and bathing/immersion
• पान्त्र-आलम्भ-अवगाहने: Adhikaraṇa (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पान्त्र (प्रातिपदिक; अनिश्चित/पाठभेद सम्भव) + आलम्भ (प्रातिपदिक; आ-√लभ्/√लम्ब्, घञ्) + अवगाहन (प्रातिपदिक; अव-√गाह्, ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थक (in the acts of ... )

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दान-अन्न-सङ्कल्पः: a resolve for giving (and) food-offering
• दान-अन्न-सङ्कल्पः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः: दानस्य अन्नस्य च सङ्कल्पः (resolve for gifts and food)

• पिण्ड-दानम्: piṇḍa-offering
• पिण्ड-दानम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः: पिण्डस्य दानम्

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (always)

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During āvāhana/arcana and avagāhana phases within early post-death rites; repeated/continuous as prescribed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṅkalpa for anna-dāna and the constant necessity of piṇḍa-dāna during these observances.

Vedantic Theme: Karma offered with saṅkalpa purifies the doer; compassionate giving becomes a sacred act that supports both giver and recipient (visible and invisible).

Application: At āvāhana/arcana and during avagāhana, explicitly resolve to donate food; ensure piṇḍa offerings are not skipped across the sequence of rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/ghāṭa and ritual site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha passages emphasizing piṇḍa, tilodaka, anna-dāna, and saṅkalpa (contextual continuity with 2.4.45–46)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Pretas

FAQs

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

This verse treats piṇḍa-dāna as a constant, obligatory offering within death-related rites, supporting the departed (preta) through prescribed ancestral obligations.

How does this verse connect ritual worship with charity (anna-dāna)?

It states that alongside āvāhana and arcana, one should explicitly take a ritual saṅkalpa to donate food—making charity an integrated part of the śrāddha/funeral observance, not a separate act.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or memorial rites, include a clear intention (saṅkalpa) for food charity and ensure piṇḍa offerings are done according to one’s tradition, emphasizing duty, remembrance, and generosity.