Shloka 10

Gayā Śrāddha at Preta-śilā: Universal Piṇḍa-dāna for Ancestors and the Unrescued Dead

Devanagari script

रौरवे चान्धतामिस्त्रे कालसूत्रे च ये गताः / तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय इमं पिण्डं ददाम्यहम्

Transliteration

raurave cāndhatāmistre kālasūtre ca ye gatāḥ / teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya imaṃ piṇḍaṃ dadāmyaham

Translation

Para sa mga napunta sa mga impiyernong Raurava, Andhatāmisra, at Kālasūtra, iniaalay ko ang piṇḍa (bilog na kaning handog sa libing) na ito upang sila’y mailigtas at mapalaya.

Word by Word

• रौरवे: in Raurava (hell)
• रौरवे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (locative of place)

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

• अन्धतामिस्त्रे: in Andhatāmisra (hell)
• अन्धतामिस्त्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्ध-तामिस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (अन्धं तामिस्रम्)

• कालसूत्रे: in Kālasūtra (hell)
• कालसूत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल-सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कालस्य सूत्रम्)

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

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• गताः: have gone
• गताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकालिक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्रियार्थे (as predicate)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• उद्धरणार्थाय: for (their) deliverance
• उद्धरणार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्धरण-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (उद्धरणस्य अर्थः)

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• पिण्डम्: rice-ball offering (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

A ritual performer (the offerer of piṇḍa) speaking as part of the piṇḍa-dāna mantra taught in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha context (commonly during ekoddiṣṭa/annual śrāddha; verse functions as saṅkalpa-mantra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karmaphala leads to naraka; śrāddha-piṇḍa is offered as a compassionate aid toward relief/transition.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandhana and anugraha mediated through dharma; the jīva’s journey is conditioned yet responsive to puṇya-transfer (paropakāra).

Application: Perform śrāddha with explicit saṅkalpa for afflicted departed; cultivate responsibility for ancestors and ethical living to avoid papa-leading states.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: naraka (hell realms)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: naraka-nāma descriptions (Raurava/Andhatāmisra/Kālasūtra); Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa: piṇḍa-dāna saṅkalpa formulas for uddhāra

Characters & Entities

• Raurava
• Andhatāmisra
• Kālasūtra

FAQs

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

This verse frames piṇḍa-dāna as an act intended for “uddharaṇa” (uplift/rescue) of departed beings, even if they are undergoing suffering in specific narakas.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It assumes post-death consequences can include falling into named hell-realms (narakas) and presents ritual offering as supportive aid for the departed during that condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/ piṇḍa-dāna with sincerity and ethical living, treating the rite as a responsibility toward ancestors and as a reminder to avoid actions that lead to severe karmic suffering.