Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

अन्येषां यातना स्थानां प्रेतलोकनिवासिनाम् / तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय इम पिण्डं ददाम्यहम्

Transliteration

anyeṣāṃ yātanā sthānāṃ pretalokanivāsinām / teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya ima piṇḍaṃ dadāmyaham

Translation

Pour les autres êtres qui demeurent dans le monde des pretas et sont retenus dans des lieux de supplice, j’offre ce piṇḍa afin qu’ils soient délivrés.

Word by Word

• अन्येषाम्: of other
• अन्येषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying स्थानाम्/निवासिनाम्)

• यातना: torture
• यातना: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यातना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद-भाव (as qualifier to स्थानाम्: ‘of torture’)

• स्थानाम्: of places
• स्थानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• प्रेतलोकनिवासिनाम्: of the dwellers in the world of pretas
• प्रेतलोकनिवासिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत-लोक-निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (प्रेतलोकस्य निवासिनः)

• 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

• इम: this
• इम: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अपभ्रंश/पाठभेद (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 performer (the śrāddha-kartā / offerer), as voiced within the Garuda Purana’s śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna instructions (taught by Lord Vishnu to Garuda).

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha context with inclusive address (suitable to parvaṇa-style ‘sarva-pitṛ’ intention)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual compassion should be comprehensive; offerings can be directed to all beings in preta condition, not only known relatives.

Vedantic Theme: Interconnectedness of beings within saṃsāra; dharma as a harmonizing force that reduces duḥkha and supports orderly transition.

Application: During śrāddha, include a universal saṅkalpa for unknown/forgotten departed; cultivate empathy for unseen suffering.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: intermediate realm/torment stations

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta-loka descriptions and yātanā-sthānas; Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa: ‘anyeṣām api’ inclusive offerings and bali/udaka provisions

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

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

This verse frames piṇḍa-dāna as an act meant to uplift and relieve beings in the preta state, extending the offering even to those undergoing painful conditions.

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

It assumes a post-death preta-loka where some experience yātanā (torment), and presents ritual offering as a supportive intervention aimed at their uddharaṇa (deliverance).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If you perform śrāddha or memorial rites, hold the intention of compassion and aid for the departed—treating the offering as a responsibility toward those who may be suffering after death.