Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

प्रपितामहो दक्षिणतः पृष्ठतः पिण्डभक्षकः / श्राद्धकाले यमः प्रेतान्पितॄंश्चापि यमालयात्

Transliteration

prapitāmaho dakṣiṇataḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ piṇḍabhakṣakaḥ / śrāddhakāle yamaḥ pretānpitṝṃścāpi yamālayāt

Translation

కుడివైపు (దక్షిణతః) ప్రపితామహుడు నిలుస్తాడు, వెనుక పిండభక్షకుడు ఉంటాడు. శ్రాద్ధకాలంలో యముడు తన యమాలయం నుండి ప్రేతులను, పితృలను కూడా తీసుకొస్తాడు.

Word by Word

• प्रपितामहः: the great-grandfather
• प्रपितामहः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• दक्षिणतः: on the right side
• दक्षिणतः: Adhikarana (Spatial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दक्षिणतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचक-तसिल् (ablatival adverb: 'on/from the right')

• पृष्ठतः: behind
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana (Spatial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (adverb: 'behind/from the back')

• पिण्डभक्षकः: the eater of the piṇḍa (rice-ball offering)
• पिण्डभक्षकः: Karta (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + भक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (पिण्डं भक्षयति/भक्षकः)

• श्राद्धकाले: at the time of śrāddha
• श्राद्धकाले: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (श्राद्धस्य कालः)

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• प्रेतान्: the departed spirits
• प्रेतान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• पितॄन्: the Pitṛs
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Addition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (particle: 'also/even')

• यमालयात्: from Yama’s abode
• यमालयात्: Apadana (Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (यमस्य आलयः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha-kāla (time of śrāddha)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yama’s governance regulates preta/pitṛ access to offerings; ritual time has juridical-cosmic authorization.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-niyati (cosmic order) operating through Yama as dharma-rāja; karma’s administration across realms.

Application: Perform śrāddha punctually and correctly, recognizing it as a time when beings under Yama’s jurisdiction are permitted to receive aid.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: otherworldly-court/ritual-site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa narratives of Yama, Yamadūtas, and preta journeys; Garuda Purana 2.10.27 (lineage placement around brāhmaṇa); Garuda Purana 2.10.29 (return from naraka to human birth)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Pitris
• Pretas
• Prapitamaha

FAQs

What is the importance of Shraddha and pinda-dana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that at śrāddha-time Yama enables pretas and pitṛs to receive offerings, indicating that piṇḍa and śrāddha are ritually meaningful channels through which the departed are supported and honored.

How does this verse explain the presence of ancestors during Shraddha?

It portrays a specific ritual moment: Yama brings the departed (pretas) and established ancestors (pitṛs) from Yamaloka so they can partake in the śrāddha offerings, showing a sanctioned connection between the living rite and the after-death realm.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha with sincerity and correct intention—treat it as an act of gratitude and duty toward one’s lineage, and as a disciplined reminder of dharma, mortality, and responsible living.