Shloka 138

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

पितृभ्योपि हि यद्दत्तमर्घपिण्डविवर्जितम् / कर्तव्यं तच्च वै सर्वमेष एव विधिः स्मृतः

Transliteration

pitṛbhyopi hi yaddattamarghapiṇḍavivarjitam / kartavyaṃ tacca vai sarvameṣa eva vidhiḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

పితృదేవతలకు అర్ఘ్యము, పిండము లేకుండా ఏదైనా ఇచ్చినట్లయితే, అది సమస్తమును విధివిధానముగా సంపూర్ణంగా మళ్లీ చేయవలెను—ఇదే స్మృత విధి.

Word by Word

• पितृभ्यः: to the ancestors
• पितृभ्यः: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन; Dative plural

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); ‘also/even’

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; relative pronoun ‘which/that’

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अर्घपिण्डविवर्जितम्: devoid of argha and piṇḍa offerings
• अर्घपिण्डविवर्जितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्घ + पिण्ड + विवर्जित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अर्घपिण्डयोः विवर्जितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective qualifying ‘दत्तम्’

• कर्तव्यम्: should be performed
• कर्तव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय कृदन्त (gerundive/तव्यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be done’

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म/विषय (Topic/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective/pronoun ‘all’

• एषः: this
• एषः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• एव: only/just
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (restrictive particle)

• विधिः: rule/ordinance
• विधिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• स्मृतः: is stated/remembered
• स्मृतः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is remembered/declared’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual acts for Pitṛs are valid only when performed with their essential limbs (aṅgas) like arghya and piṇḍa; omissions require completion.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier and sustainer of ṛta/dharma; right means (vidhi) matters for intended phala.

Application: When performing śrāddha/tarpaṇa, ensure arghya and piṇḍa are included; if previously omitted, redo/complete the rite according to tradition and family śākhā.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: gṛhya/ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta-kalpa/Śrāddha-kalpa passages on piṇḍa-udaka necessity and preta relief; Adjacent verses 2.34.141-142 on first-year śrāddha and preta distress when piṇḍa/udaka lapse

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Arghya
• Piṇḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of arghya and piṇḍa in Garuda Purana Śrāddha rituals?

This verse states that offerings to the Pitṛs are considered procedurally incomplete without arghya (water-offering) and piṇḍa (rice-ball oblation), and therefore the rite should be performed properly in full.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, correct Śrāddha components support the departed and maintain the prescribed relationship between the living and the Pitṛs; the verse emphasizes that omissions in ritual support should be corrected by completing the full procedure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing ancestor rites (Śrāddha/tarpaṇa), follow a complete, tradition-backed procedure—especially the key elements like arghya and piṇḍa—or consult a qualified priest/textual guide to avoid accidental omissions.