Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

सर्वदानानि देयानि ह्यन्न दानादृते खग / संगृहीतः सुतः कुर्यादेकोद्दिष्टं न पार्वणम्

Transliteration

sarvadānāni deyāni hyanna dānādṛte khaga / saṃgṛhītaḥ sutaḥ kuryādekoddiṣṭaṃ na pārvaṇam

Translation

Wahai Khaga (Garuda), segala jenis sedekah hendaklah diberikan, namun tiada yang menyamai sedekah makanan. Anak angkat hendaklah melakukan ekoddiṣṭa, tetapi tidak melakukan pārvaṇa.

Word by Word

• सर्वदानानि: all gifts
• सर्वदानानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + दान (प्रातिपदिक); कर्मधारयसमासः (sarva-dāna)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• देयानि: are to be given
• देयानि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: विधेयार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• अन्नदानात्: from food-giving
• अन्नदानात्: Apadana (Exception base/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + दान (प्रातिपदिक); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः (anna-dāna)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• ऋते: except
• ऋते: Sambandha (Exception marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते (अव्यय)
• Form: अपवादार्थक-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable: except/without)

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

• संगृहीतः: adopted/accepted
• संगृहीतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-ग्रह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• एकोद्दिष्टम्: ekoddiṣṭa rite
• एकोद्दिष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + उद्दिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक); कर्मधारयसमासः (eka-uddiṣṭa)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• पार्वणम्: pārvaṇa rite
• पार्वणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Not specified; ekoddiṣṭa context implied for a specific departed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Among gifts, anna-dāna is foremost; adopted sons have a defined ritual duty—perform ekoddiṣṭa, not pārvaṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as ordered obligation (maryādā) and compassion through sustenance; right action depends on relationship/adhikāra.

Application: Prioritize feeding (guests, needy, ritual recipients) as a core virtue; in adoption/guardianship contexts, follow prescribed ritual roles rather than improvising.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha rules on adopted sons and distinctions of rites (general); Garuda Purana praise of dāna, especially anna-dāna (general)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pitris
• Shraddha
• Ekoḍḍiṣṭa

FAQs

What is the importance of anna-dāna (food charity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates anna-dāna as the most essential form of giving in the context of death rites, emphasizing nourishment/support as a prime dharmic offering connected with śrāddha and care for the departed.

What does this verse say about ekoddiṣṭa and pārvaṇa śrāddha?

It distinguishes the two: ekoddiṣṭa is a focused rite for one deceased person, while pārvaṇa is the broader ancestral rite for the pitṛ-line; the verse assigns only ekoddiṣṭa to an adopted son, not pārvaṇa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize food donation and feeding others as a meaningful charity, and follow tradition-specific guidance for śrāddha roles—especially in complex family situations like adoption—by consulting learned priests and family dharma practices.