Shloka 11

The Explanation of the Post-funeral Rites (Aurdhvadehika) and Related Matters

Devanagari script

पिता ददाति पुत्त्रान् वै विच्छिन्नसन्ततिः खग / होमदाता भवेत्सोपि यस्तस्य प्रपितामहः

Transliteration

pitā dadāti puttrān vai vicchinnasantatiḥ khaga / homadātā bhavetsopi yastasya prapitāmahaḥ

Translation

ഹേ ഖഗ (ഗരുഡാ), വംശപരമ്പര മുറിഞ്ഞാൽ പിതാവുതന്നെ പുത്രന്മാരെ നൽകുന്നു (സന്തതി നിലനിർത്തുന്നു). അതുപോലെ ഹോമദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നവനും അവനു പ്രപിതാമഹനെന്നപോലെ പിതൃബന്ധം സ്ഥാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुत्त्रान्: sons
• पुत्त्रान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; पाठे ‘पुत्त्र’ = ‘पुत्र’ (वर्णभेद)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• विच्छिन्नसन्ततिः: one whose lineage is cut off
• विच्छिन्नसन्ततिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विच्छिन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्तति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—विच्छिन्ना सन्ततिः (broken lineage)

• खग: O bird (Garuda)
• खग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• होमदाता: giver/performer of the homa offering
• होमदाता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक) + दाता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—होमस्य दाता (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• तस्य: of him/of that person
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रपितामहः: great-grandfather
• प्रपितामहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: When lineage is disrupted; performed as needed alongside regular śrāddha/homa observances

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When lineage continuity is broken, pitṛ-centered rites and oblations restore connection; ritual agency can ‘create’ ancestral linkage and continuity of dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Pitṛ-ṛṇa and saṃskāra as supports for social-spiritual continuity; dharma as a living network sustained by intentional action.

Application: In cases of disrupted family continuity (no heirs/estrangement), prioritize prescribed ancestral rites, adoption/appointed heir per dharma traditions where applicable, and ensure qualified performance of homa/śrāddha to maintain lineage obligations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household ritual context (homa/śrāddha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha discourse to Garuḍa on lineage, pitṛ satisfaction, and rite efficacy (surrounding 2.35.10–12)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of homa and śrāddha for a broken lineage in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links ritual offering (homa) with restoring or establishing ancestral continuity, implying that proper rites can uphold the pitṛ-connection even when lineage is disrupted.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana view of ancestors (Pitṛs)?

It emphasizes that ancestry is not only biological but also ritually maintained—through prescribed offerings that affirm the relationship with Pitṛs and sustain familial continuity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain ancestral rites with sincerity—such as śrāddha-related offerings or homa according to tradition—so that remembrance, gratitude, and dharmic continuity are preserved in the family.