Shloka 3

Gayā Śrāddha at Preta-śilā: Universal Piṇḍa-dāna for Ancestors and the Unrescued Dead

Devanagari script

पितवंशे मृता ये च मातृवंशे च ये मृताः / तषामुद्धरणार्थाये इमं पिण्डे ददाम्यहम्

Transliteration

pitavaṃśe mṛtā ye ca mātṛvaṃśe ca ye mṛtāḥ / taṣāmuddharaṇārthāye imaṃ piṇḍe dadāmyaham

Translation

Bagi semua yang telah wafat dalam keturunan sebelah bapa dan yang telah wafat dalam keturunan sebelah ibu, demi pengangkatan dan pembebasan mereka, aku mempersembahkan piṇḍa ini.

Word by Word

पितृवंशेin the paternal line

मृताःdead (ones)

येwho

चand

मातृवंशेin the maternal line

चand

येwho

मृताःdead (ones)

तेषाम्for/of them

उद्धरणार्थायfor the purpose of deliverance

इमम्this

पिण्डम्piṇḍa offering

ददामिI give

अहम्I

Speaker

Ritual performer (the śrāddha-kartā) reciting the piṇḍa-dāna saṅkalpa/mantra as taught in the Garuḍa Purāṇa (Vishnu-to-Garuḍa instruction context).

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During piṇḍa-dāna segment of śrāddha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Piṇḍa is offered for the upliftment of both father’s and mother’s lineages—ancestral duty is bilateral, not only patrilineal in intent.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as gratitude (ṛṇa) repayment—pitṛ-ṛṇa; compassionate action purifies the doer and supports the departed within karma’s network.

Application: During śrāddha, explicitly include both paternal and maternal ancestors in the saṅkalpa and offerings, fostering wholeness of family remembrance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: śrāddha-vedi/home altar or tīrtha setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.85.2 (invoking those without gati).; Garuda Purana 1.85.4 (maternal grandfather line).

Characters & Entities

Pitṛs (ancestors)

Mātṛvaṃśa (maternal ancestors)

Pitṛvaṃśa (paternal ancestors)

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa-dāna in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames piṇḍa-dāna as an act done specifically “for upliftment/deliverance” (uddharaṇa) of departed relatives, indicating it is meant to benefit the deceased in the post-death journey and ancestor-state.

How does this verse explain who should be included in śrāddha offerings?

It explicitly includes both the paternal lineage (pitṛvaṃśa) and the maternal lineage (mātṛvaṃśa), showing the rite is not limited only to the father’s line.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or memorial rites, remember both sides of the family and make the offering with a clear intention (saṅkalpa) of benefit and goodwill toward the departed.