Shloka 20

Akalamṛtyu-kāraṇa and Bāla Antyeṣṭi: Age-graded Funeral Rites, Śrāddha Types, and Sonship Duties

Devanagari script

पायसेन गुडेनापि पिण्डान्दद्याद्यथाक्रमम् / उदकुम्भप्रदानं च पद (उप) दानानि यानि च

Transliteration

pāyasena guḍenāpi piṇḍāndadyādyathākramam / udakumbhapradānaṃ ca pada (upa) dānāni yāni ca

Translation

പായസം കൊണ്ടോ ശർക്കര (ഗുഡം) കൊണ്ടോ ക്രമപ്രകാരം പിണ്ഡങ്ങൾ അർപ്പിക്കണം; കൂടാതെ ഉദകുംഭദാനവും, വിധിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന പദോപദാനാദി ദാനങ്ങളും ചെയ്യണം।

Word by Word

• पायसेन: with rice-pudding
• पायसेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• गुडेन: with jaggery
• गुडेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) = 'also/even'

• पिण्डान्: rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यथाक्रमम्: in due order
• यथाक्रमम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb)

• उदकुम्भप्रदानम्: the giving of a water-pot
• उदकुम्भप्रदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदकुम्भ + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• उपदानानि: subsidiary gifts/offerings
• उपदानानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• यानि: which
• यानि: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Within dvādaśāha/ekoddiṣṭa sequence as prescribed by the rite.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct sequence and sincere offering; substitutes (pāyasa or guḍa) are acceptable within rule and capacity; dāna complements śrāddha.

Vedantic Theme: Niyata-karma with anukalpa (permitted substitution) performed without attachment; dāna as sattva-enhancing support for dharma.

Application: Offer piṇḍas in prescribed order using available proper substances; include udakumbha-dāna and any prescribed subsidiary donations (upadāna/padadāna) as feasible.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.25: piṇḍa-krama and dāna items listed around these verses; Garuda Purana: dāna-mahātmyas connected to preta-śānti

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Preta

FAQs

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

This verse emphasizes that offering piṇḍas in the prescribed sequence is a key part of post-death rites, supporting the departed (preta) through proper ritual nourishment and duty (dharma).

Why does the verse mention pāyasa (rice-pudding) and guḍa (jaggery)?

It indicates acceptable ritual substitutes: piṇḍas may be offered with richer offerings like pāyasa, or even simply with jaggery, while still maintaining the required order and intent.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with sincerity and correct sequence, and include charitable giving (like providing water resources) as part of remembrance and responsibility toward family and society.