Shloka 31

Gayā-yātrā-vidhi: Multi-day Śrāddha Route, Pitṛ-devatās, and Akṣaya Merit at Gayā

Devanagari script

पिण्डान्दद्यात्पितॄणां च सकलं तारयेत्कुलम् / वटमूलं समासाद्य शाकेनोष्णोदकेन वा

Transliteration

piṇḍāndadyātpitṝṇāṃ ca sakalaṃ tārayetkulam / vaṭamūlaṃ samāsādya śākenoṣṇodakena vā

Translation

పితృదేవతలకు పిండప్రదానం చేయాలి; దానివల్ల సమస్త వంశం తరించబడుతుంది. మర్రి చెట్టు మూలానికి చేరి, కూరగాయలతో గానీ వేడి నీటితో గానీ అర్పించవచ్చు.

Word by Word

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

• दद्यात्: should give/offer
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पितॄणाम्: for the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सकलम्: entire, whole
• सकलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (to कुलम्)

• तारयेत्: should deliver/save
• तारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु) (णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: ‘cause to cross/save’)

• कुलम्: family, lineage
• कुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वटमूलम्: the root of the banyan tree
• वटमूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वट + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वटस्य मूलम्)

• समासाद्य: having approached/reached
• समासाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + सद् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• शाकेन: with vegetables/greens
• शाकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• उष्णोदकेन: with warm water
• उष्णोदकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्ण + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (उष्णम् उदकम्)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After reaching vaṭa-mūla in the Gayā-śrāddha sequence (exact tithi not specified here).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha/piṇḍa-dāna is a kula-dharma capable of ‘tāraṇa’ (uplift) of the lineage; accessibility is emphasized (vegetables or warm water).

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of bhāva (intent) and dharma over material opulence; compassionate action as purifier of saṃskāra.

Application: If resources are limited, perform pitṛ-offerings with available sāttvika items (śāka) or even warm water, maintaining purity and intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: vṛkṣa-sthāna/tīrtha adjunct

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śrāddha accessibility teachings (simple offerings accepted when done with śraddhā); Garuda Purana: vaṭa/akṣaya-vaṭa passages in Gayā-māhātmya

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

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

This verse states that offering piṇḍas to the Pitṛs is a liberating act that benefits not only the departed but is said to uplift and protect the entire family lineage.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing offerings to the Pitṛs, the verse points to post-death support through śrāddha rites—acts believed to aid the departed and maintain ancestral well-being, which in turn safeguards descendants.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If full ritual materials are unavailable, the verse allows simplified offerings—performed with sincerity—even using vegetables or warm water, encouraging continuity of ancestor remembrance and duty.