Shloka 48

Gayā-yātrā-vidhi: Multi-day Śrāddha Route, Pitṛ-devatās, and Akṣaya Merit at Gayā

Devanagari script

अन्येषां चैव पिण्डो ऽयमक्षय्यमुपतिष्ठताम्

Transliteration

anyeṣāṃ caiva piṇḍo 'yamakṣayyamupatiṣṭhatām

Translation

また他の者たちのためにも、このピṇḍa（供団）が尽きることなき功徳と支えとして常に現前せよ。

Word by Word

• अन्येषाम्: of others
• अन्येषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक (pronominal)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• पिण्डः: the piṇḍa (funeral offering ball)
• पिण्डः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Apposition to subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अक्षय्यम्: imperishable/undiminishing
• अक्षय्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय्य (प्रातिपदिक; अ-उपसर्ग + क्षय्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied object/benefit)

• उपतिष्ठताम्: may you attend/approach
• उपतिष्ठताम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; विधिलिङ्गार्थ-आज्ञा (let ... attend/approach)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra within the Preta Kanda discourse on śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha occasion (tithi-based; commonly pitṛ-pakṣa/annual śrāddha)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Piṇḍa-dāna generates enduring supportive merit for the departed beyond a single addressee.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and saṃbandha (relational duty) functioning within dharma; compassion as sattvic impetus.

Application: During śrāddha, extend the saṅkalpa to include ‘anyeṣām’ (others/unspecified departed), cultivating inclusivity and continuity of offerings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections: repeated ‘akṣayya’ phrasing for piṇḍa/tilodaka offerings (general parallel within śrāddha-vidhi passages).

FAQs

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

This verse frames the piṇḍa as akṣayya—an inexhaustible support—indicating that the śrāddha offering is meant to continue benefiting the intended recipients beyond the immediate ritual moment.

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

Within the Preta Kanda context, the departed is sustained through prescribed rites; this line emphasizes that the piṇḍa is not merely symbolic but is invoked to ‘stand by’ as ongoing aid during the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna with clear intention and reverence, cultivating responsibility toward ancestors and the continuity of dharmic duties (pitṛ-ṛṇa).