Shloka 66

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

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणानां तथैवान्यत्तेन तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति वै / पिशाचत्वमनुप्राप्ताः कृमिकीटत्वमेव ये

Transliteration

brāhmaṇānāṃ tathaivānyattena tṛptiṃ prayānti vai / piśācatvamanuprāptāḥ kṛmikīṭatvameva ye

Translation

பிராமணர்களுக்கு அர்ப்பணிக்கப்படுவதாலும், அதுபோன்ற பிற தான‑அர்ப்பணங்களாலும் உயிர்கள் நிச்சயமாகத் திருப்தி அடைகின்றன. பிசாசுநிலையை அடைந்தவர்களும், புழு‑பூச்சிகளாக ஆனவர்களும் அதனால் திருப்தியடைகின்றனர்।

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), बहुवचनम्

• तथा: thus / likewise
• तथा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb)

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (particle), अवधारणे

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• तृप्तिम्: satisfaction
• तृप्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• प्रयान्ति: they attain / go to
• प्रयान्ति: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), निश्चयार्थे

• पिशाचत्वम्: state of being a piśāca (ghoul)
• पिशाचत्वम्: Karma (Object/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाचत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• अनुप्राप्ताः: having attained / having reached
• अनुप्राप्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु+प्र+आप् (धातु) → अनुप्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त)

• कृमिकीटत्वम्: state of being worms and insects
• कृमिकीटत्वम्: Karma (Object/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक) + कीट (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः: कृमि-कीट (द्वन्द्वः) + त्व = तद्भावः

• एव: only / indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्, अवधारणे

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्धसूचकं

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna/śrāddha offerings—especially through Brāhmaṇas—can satisfy beings across altered states (piśāca, worms/insects), affirming ritual connectivity across births.

Vedantic Theme: Interconnectedness of jīvas under karma; adṛṣṭa (unseen) efficacy of dharmic acts; compassion extending beyond human categories.

Application: Perform śrāddha and dāna with faith and correctness; include feeding/giving as a compassionate practice benefiting seen and unseen beings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.10.65 (degraded sustenance); Garuda Purana 2.10.67-69 (piṇḍa nourishment; discipline; lineage across births)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Piśācas
• Kṛmis (worms)
• Kīṭas (insects)

FAQs

What is the importance of giving to Brāhmaṇas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offerings made to Brāhmaṇas become a means of “tṛpti” (satiation) for departed beings, indicating a ritual channel through which the dead—including distressed categories like piśācas—receive relief.

How does this verse explain the condition of piśācas and lower rebirths?

It acknowledges that some beings fall into painful states such as piśācatva (piśāca-condition) or rebirth as worms/insects, yet even they can be benefited and satisfied through properly directed offerings and related rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha or memorial charity with sincerity—especially feeding or donating in the name of the departed—while living ethically to avoid actions that lead to degraded states described in the text.