Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

अन्यायोपार्जितैर्द्रव्यैर्यच्छ्राद्धं क्रियते नरैः / तकृप्यन्ति तेन चण्डालाः पुक्कसाद्युपयोनिषु

Transliteration

anyāyopārjitairdravyairyacchrāddhaṃ kriyate naraiḥ / takṛpyanti tena caṇḍālāḥ pukkasādyupayoniṣu

Translation

หากมนุษย์ประกอบพิธีศราทธะด้วยทรัพย์ที่ได้มาด้วยความอยุติธรรม ปิตฤทั้งหลายย่อมไม่อิ่มเอิบโดยชอบ; กลับเป็นเครื่องหล่อเลี้ยงสัตว์ในครรภ์ต่ำ เช่น จัณฑาละและปุกกสะ เป็นต้น

Word by Word

• अन्यायोपार्जितैः: by unjustly acquired
• अन्यायोपार्जितैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्याय-उपार्जित (प्रातिपदिक; उपार्जित = √अर्ज् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past passive participle)

• द्रव्यैः: with wealth/materials
• द्रव्यैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• श्राद्धम्: Śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• क्रियते: is performed
• क्रियते: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• नरैः: by men
• नरैः: Kartṛ (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• कृप्यन्ति: are displeased
• कृप्यन्ति: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद/कर्मणि-स्वरूप (become displeased/are pained)

• तेन: by that/thereby
• तेन: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• चण्डालाः: Caṇḍālas
• चण्डालाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पुक्कसाद्युपयोनिषु: in the wombs/births such as of Pukkasas etc.
• पुक्कसाद्युपयोनिषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुक्कस-आदि-उपयोनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; समासः—(पुक्कसादयः) + उपयोनयः (तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha occasion (tithi-based; implied)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Unjustly acquired wealth corrupts śrāddha; the intended pitṛs are not satisfied and the offering is diverted to lower beings.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and adhikāra: intention and purity of means condition the fruit of ritual action; tamasic artha vitiates sattvic rite.

Application: Perform śrāddha only with honestly earned resources; avoid ritual as a cover for unethical livelihood; prioritize clean livelihood before religious giving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections emphasizing śuddha-dravya and śrāddha-vidhi (general parallel theme)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Chandalas
• Pukkasas

FAQs

Why does the Garuda Purana warn against performing śrāddha with unjustly earned wealth?

This verse teaches that offerings made from adharma-tainted wealth lose their intended efficacy; instead of benefiting the Pitṛs, the result diverts to lower beings, showing that the moral source of resources affects ritual fruit.

How does this verse relate karma to the results of śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

It links karma to ritual outcome by stating that unethical acquisition (anyāyopārjita) alters the recipient and fruit of the rite—demonstrating that dharmic conduct is integral to śrāddha, not separate from it.

What is a practical takeaway for performing death rituals today based on this verse?

Perform śrāddha and charity with honestly earned resources and a dharmic intention; purity of livelihood and means is treated as essential for the rite to truly serve its ancestral purpose.