Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

पुशुयोनिं गता ये च पक्षिकीटसरीसृपाः / अथवा वृक्षयोनि स्थास्तेभ्यः पिण्डं ददाम्यहम्

Transliteration

puśuyoniṃ gatā ye ca pakṣikīṭasarīsṛpāḥ / athavā vṛkṣayoni sthāstebhyaḥ piṇḍaṃ dadāmyaham

Translation

പശുയോനിയിൽ ജനിച്ചവർ—പക്ഷികൾ, കീടങ്ങൾ, സരീസൃപങ്ങൾ—അഥവാ വൃക്ഷയോനിയിൽ ഉള്ളവർക്ക് ഞാൻ ഈ പിണ്ഡം അർപ്പിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• पशुयोनिम्: the animal womb/species
• पशुयोनिम्: Karma (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु-योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पशूनां योनिः)

• गताः: having gone
• गताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• पक्षिकीटसरीसृपाः: birds, insects, and reptiles
• पक्षिकीटसरीसृपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षि-कीट-सरीसृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (birds, insects, reptiles)

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle: ‘or else’)

• वृक्षयोनि: tree-species (womb)
• वृक्षयोनि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष-योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वृक्षाणां योनिः)

• स्थाः: being (there), abiding
• स्थाः: Kriya (State/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle/‘standing, being’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (पाठभेदे ‘स्थाः’ = ‘स्थिताः’)

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन

• 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

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha saṅkalpa addressing possible rebirth states (used within śrāddha sequence)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rebirth can occur in diverse yonis due to karma; offerings are directed even to those no longer in human/ preta states.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra and dehāntara-prāpti; the jīva’s continuity beyond form; compassion as dharmic response to karmic descent.

Application: Practice ahiṃsā and mindful living; during śrāddha, hold the possibility of non-human rebirth and dedicate merit broadly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: embodied earthly habitats

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: discussions of yonis and rebirth outcomes tied to karma; Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa: offerings addressed to beings in various births

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Pitris

FAQs

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

This verse emphasizes that piṇḍa-dāna is meant for the departed regardless of their post-death rebirth—its intent is to reach and benefit the jīva even if it has taken a non-human yoni.

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

It implies that the soul may take varied embodiments (animals, birds, insects, reptiles, even trees) and that rites like piṇḍa-dāna are performed with the understanding of continued transmigration and ongoing connection to the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/piṇḍa-dāna with inclusiveness and faith—without assuming the departed’s condition—while living ethically to reduce harmful karmic outcomes that lead to lower yonis.