Shloka 15

Śrāddha as Trans-realm Nourishment; Pitṛ-Conveyance; Piṇḍa-born Body and the ātivāhika; Bhakti-based Release

Devanagari script

अन्नं नयन्ति तत्रैते जन्तुर्यत्रावतिष्ठते / नाम गोत्रञ्च मन्त्राश्च दत्तमन्नं नयन्ति ते

Transliteration

annaṃ nayanti tatraite janturyatrāvatiṣṭhate / nāma gotrañca mantrāśca dattamannaṃ nayanti te

Translation

彼らは供えられた食を、亡き者の霊がとどまるその場所へと運ぶ。名、ゴートラ（氏族）とマントラ—これらが施された食を彼に届けるのである。

Word by Word

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• नयन्ति: they carry/lead
• नयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• एते: these (ones)
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• जन्तुः: the being/creature
• जन्तुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक/स्थानवाचक (relative locative adverb)

• अवतिष्ठते: remains/abides
• अवतिष्ठते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नाम: name
• नाम: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समुच्चित-विषय)

• गोत्रम्: lineage/clan
• गोत्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समुच्चित-विषय)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• मन्त्राः: mantras
• मन्त्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (समुच्चित-विषय)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• दत्तम्: given/offered
• दत्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नयन्ति: they carry
• नयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death śrāddha context (preta-support period; applicable to ekoddiṣṭa offerings)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual intention and correct identification (nāma-gotra-mantra) determine the destination and efficacy of offerings for the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikara and saṅkalpa: subtle causality where mantra and intention operate beyond gross space; karma continues after death and can be supported by descendants’ rites.

Application: In śrāddha, clearly state the departed’s name and gotra and recite the prescribed mantras with focused saṅkalpa so the offering is ‘addressed’ correctly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: unspecified abode of the departed; ritual-to-realm conduit

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śrāddha-phala and nāma-gotra-saṅkalpa passages (adjacent 2.10.16–19); Garuda Purana: pinda-dāna sections describing delivery to preta via mantra

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Mantras
• Gotra

FAQs

Why are name and gotra mentioned during Shraddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the identification markers—name and gotra—together with mantras function as the means by which the offering is directed to the specific departed being, ensuring it reaches the intended recipient.

How does this verse explain that offerings reach the preta wherever it is?

It teaches that the ritual delivery is not physical but mantra-mediated: the spoken mantras, along with correct identification (name/gotra), ‘carry’ the offered food to the location where the preta currently abides.

What is a practical takeaway from this teaching for modern practitioners?

Perform ancestral rites with care: clearly state the departed’s name and gotra and recite the prescribed mantras faithfully, treating accuracy and intention as essential to the ritual’s efficacy.