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

Lors des rites d’invocation (āvāhana) et d’adoration (arcana), et durant le bain ou l’immersion des observances funéraires, qu’on prenne le saṅkalpa de donner de la nourriture en aumône; et que l’offrande des piṇḍa (boules de riz pour le défunt) soit toujours accomplie.

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.