Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

आब्राह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तं जगत्प्रीणाति मानवः / अन्नप्रकिरणं यत्तु मनुष्यैः क्रियते भुवि

Transliteration

ābrāhmastambaparyantaṃ jagatprīṇāti mānavaḥ / annaprakiraṇaṃ yattu manuṣyaiḥ kriyate bhuvi

Translation

ഭൂമിയിൽ മനുഷ്യർ ചെയ്യുന്ന അന്നം ചിതറിക്കൽ മൂലം, ബ്രഹ്മാവിൽ നിന്ന് പുല്ലിന്റെ തുമ്പുവരെ സമസ്ത ലോകവും മനുഷ്യനാൽ സന്തോഷിപ്പിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• आब्राह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तम्: up to (from Brahmā down to a blade of grass)
• आब्राह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तम्: Desha/Avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ- + ब्राह्म-स्तम्ब-पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (अव्ययार्थे ‘आ’ उपसर्गः—‘पर्यन्तम्’ सहितम्)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रीणाति: pleases/satisfies
• प्रीणाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रीण् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मानवः: a human
• मानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अन्नप्रकिरणम्: the scattering of food
• अन्नप्रकिरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न-प्रकिरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अन्नस्य प्रकिरणम्)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Avyaya (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• मनुष्यैः: by humans
• मनुष्यैः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (कर्तृ/करण), बहुवचन

• क्रियते: is done
• क्रियते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भूमि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As part of śrāddha-associated bali/anna offerings on the ritual day

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anna-dāna/anna-prakīraṇa gladdens and nourishes the entire hierarchy of beings, indicating the universality of offering.

Vedantic Theme: Unity of life supported by yajña/dāna; the macrocosm is served through microcosmic acts of giving.

Application: Offer food respectfully (to beings seen and unseen), avoid waste, and cultivate daily generosity—feeding animals/birds and supporting the needy as an extension of śrāddha spirit.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-ground/outdoors

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha passages praising anna-dāna and tarpaṇa as universally beneficial

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• All beings (jagat)
• Grass/vegetation (stamba)

FAQs

What is the importance of anna-prakīraṇa (scattering food) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that distributing/scattering food is a universally beneficial act that pleases the entire range of beings—from the highest (Brahmā) to the smallest life-forms—making it a powerful dharmic charity associated with ritual merit.

How does this verse relate to death rituals like śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, food-offerings and acts of feeding are emphasized as supportive rites; anna-prakīraṇa functions as a broad, compassionate offering that extends benefit beyond the immediate family rite, aligning with śrāddha’s intent of nourishment and appeasement.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice anna-dāna: feed people, animals, and birds, or set aside food respectfully as an offering—cultivating compassion and reducing harm while performing a simple, high-merit act of dharma.