Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

पुत्त्रेण दत्ते ते सर्वे गोत्रिणो हितबान्धवाः / स्वजात्यैः परजात्यैश्च देयो नद्यां जलाञ्जलिः

Transliteration

puttreṇa datte te sarve gotriṇo hitabāndhavāḥ / svajātyaiḥ parajātyaiśca deyo nadyāṃ jalāñjaliḥ

Translation

పుత్రుడు అర్పించినప్పుడు గోత్రస్థులందరూ, హితబంధువులందరూ ఉపకారము పొందుతారు. కావున స్వజాతి మరియు పరజాతి వారికీ నదిలో జలాంజలి అర్పించవలెను.

Word by Word

• putreṇa: by the son
• putreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• datte: has given
• datte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada; "has given" (contextual)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; pronoun "they"

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with gotriṇaḥ/hitabāndhavāḥ

• gotriṇaḥ: kinsmen of the same lineage
• gotriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gotrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• hita-bāndhavāḥ: well-wishing relatives
• hita-bāndhavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + bāndhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; karmadhāraya: "beneficial/close relatives"

• sva-jātyaiḥ: with one’s own group
• sva-jātyaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; tatpuruṣa: sva-jāti = "one's own caste/group"; instrumental of association

• para-jātyaiḥ: with other groups
• para-jātyaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; "with other groups"

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• deyaḥ: should be given
• deyaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deya (कृदन्त; √dā दा धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; gerundive (कर्तव्य) "to be given"; agrees with jalāñjaliḥ

• nadyām: in the river
• nadyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• jala-añjaliḥ: a handful of water
• jala-añjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: jalasya añjaliḥ = "handful of water"; subject of deyaḥ

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The son’s offerings benefit not only the departed but also gotra members and well-wishers; water-libations in a river extend merit/support broadly, beyond one’s own jāti.

Vedantic Theme: Interconnectedness under karma and ṛṇa (debts)—pitṛ-ṛṇa and social bonds; dharma radiating outward.

Application: Perform river-side jalāñjali with inclusive intention—remember clan, relatives, and even non-kin; cultivate gratitude and reconciliation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: river/ford (tīrtha-like ritual site)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: son’s role (putra-dharma) in pitṛ-kārya; communal benefit of śrāddha/udaka (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of jalāñjali (water libation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents jalāñjali as a dharmic act that benefits the departed and the wider circle of one’s lineage and relatives when performed properly, especially as part of śrāddha/tarpaṇa observances.

How does this verse explain the role of the son in post-death rites?

It emphasizes that offerings made by the son have a direct beneficial effect on gotra members and well-wishing relatives, highlighting the traditional responsibility of the पुत्र (son) in ancestral rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform tarpana or memorial water-offerings with sincerity (as per one’s tradition) and cultivate an inclusive intention—praying for the welfare of ancestors and relatives broadly, not only one’s immediate family.