Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणैः सह चाश्रन्ति पितरो ह्यन्तरिक्षगाः / वायुभूताश्च तिष्ठन्ति भुक्त्वा यान्ति परां गतिम्

Transliteration

brāhmaṇaiḥ saha cāśranti pitaro hyantarikṣagāḥ / vāyubhūtāśca tiṣṭhanti bhuktvā yānti parāṃ gatim

Translation

അന്തരീക്ഷത്തിൽ സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്ന പിതൃകൾ ബ്രാഹ്മണന്മാരോടൊപ്പം വന്ന് ശ്രാദ്ധഭോജനം സ്വീകരിക്കുന്നു. വായുവുപോലെ സൂക്ഷ്മരൂപമായി അവിടെ നിലകൊണ്ട്, ഹവിസ് ലഭിച്ച ശേഷം പരമഗതിയിലേക്കു പ്രസ്ഥാനം ചെയ്യുന്നു.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणैः: with/by the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणैः: Sahakari/Karana (Instrument/Associate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (Association marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गार्थे/सहयोगार्थे (preposition/adverb: 'together/with')

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• आश्रन्ति: they rest
• आश्रन्ति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Present indicative 3rd pl; उपसर्ग: आ-

• पितरः: the Pitṛs (ancestors)
• पितरः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• अन्तरिक्षगाः: moving in the sky
• अन्तरिक्षगाः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तरिक्ष + ग (प्रातिपदिक); ग (गम्-धातोः क्त/णिनि-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural; समासः षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (अन्तरिक्षे गच्छन्ति/गाः)

• वायुभूताः: having become like wind
• वायुभूताः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायु + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural; समासः तत्पुरुष (वायुरूपेण भूताः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तिष्ठन्ति: they remain/stand
• तिष्ठन्ति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Present indicative 3rd pl

• भुक्त्वा: having eaten
• भुक्त्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• यान्ति: they go
• यान्ति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Present indicative 3rd pl

• पराम्: supreme/highest
• पराम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• गतिम्: destination/state
• गतिम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha occasion (general)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha offerings, mediated through brāhmaṇas, nourish Pitṛs who then attain an elevated course (parā gati).

Vedantic Theme: Subtle-body (sūkṣma) operation and the efficacy of karma-kāṇḍa rites within saṃsāra; movement toward higher states through ordained action.

Application: Perform śrāddha with proper brāhmaṇa participation and faith, understanding offerings as reaching ancestors in subtle form.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.10.26-29 (mechanism of Pitṛ entry, seating, Yama’s role); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa sections on preta/pitṛ states and śrāddha efficacy

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Brahmanas

FAQs

What is the importance of Shraddha offerings to the Pitris in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the Pitṛs actually approach in a subtle, air-like form and accept the offering, after which they depart toward a higher state—supporting Shrāddha as a meaningful rite for ancestral upliftment.

How does this verse explain how the ancestors receive food during rituals?

It explains that the Pitṛs are ‘antarikṣa-gāḥ’ (moving in the mid-region) and become ‘vāyu-bhūtāḥ’ (wind-like/subtle), allowing them to be present and partake of the essence of the offering given in the ritual setting with Brāhmaṇas.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with sincerity—especially feeding or honoring learned persons and offering with remembrance—treating Shrāddha as an act of gratitude, continuity of dharma, and responsibility to one’s lineage.