Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

ततश्चास्तं गते सूर्ये निराशा दुः खसंयुताः / निः श्वसन्तश्चिरं यान्ति गर्हयन्तस्तु वंशजम्

Transliteration

tataścāstaṃ gate sūrye nirāśā duḥ khasaṃyutāḥ / niḥ śvasantaściraṃ yānti garhayantastu vaṃśajam

Translation

പിന്നെ സൂര്യൻ അസ്തമിച്ചാൽ അവർ നിരാശയും ദുഃഖവും നിറഞ്ഞവരാകും; വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും നിശ്വാസം വിട്ടുകൊണ്ട് ദീർഘമായി പോകുകയും സ്വന്തം വംശജനെയെ കുറ്റപ്പെടുത്തുകയും ചെയ്യും.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/कारणवाचक अव्यय (then/thereupon)

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

• अस्तम्: to setting; down
• अस्तम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (directional: 'to setting')

• गते: when (it) had gone
• गते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• सूर्ये: when the sun (was)
• सूर्ये: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Case 7), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी

• निराशाः: hopeless
• निराशाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• दुःखसंयुताः: afflicted with sorrow
• दुःखसंयुताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दुःखेन संयुताः)

• निःश्वसन्तः: sighing
• निःश्वसन्तः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निः + श्वस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• चिरम्: for long
• चिरम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (for a long time)

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• गर्हयन्तः: blaming, censuring
• गर्हयन्तः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गर्ह् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• वंशजम्: the descendant
• वंशजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंशज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After sunset (missed window)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglect of śrāddha produces relational karmic consequences: sorrow for Pitṛs and blame/adharma accruing to descendants; time-bound duty missed yields suffering.

Vedantic Theme: Bandha through ṛṇa (debts) and saṃbandha (relations): ethical causality operates not only individually but through lineage obligations; omission (akaraṇa) is also karma.

Application: Avoid procrastination in duties; repair neglect through prompt performance, charity, and prāyaścitta-oriented sincerity when lapses occur.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: liminal passage/roadway

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.10.54 (therefore perform amāvasyā-śrāddha diligently)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Pretas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of descendants (vaṃśaja) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse stresses that the departed, in a state of grief and helplessness, attribute their continued hardship to the failure or delay of their descendant in performing the required post-death rites such as śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna.

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

It depicts the preta’s emotionally painful journey—marked by hopelessness and long wandering—intensifying as day ends, implying vulnerability and dependence on ritual support offered by the living family.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Fulfill funeral duties and annual śrāddha with sincerity, and maintain family responsibility (dharma) toward elders—so remembrance, charity, and rites are not neglected.