Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

ये मे कुले लुप्तपिण्डाः पुत्त्रदारविवर्जिताः / क्रियालो पहता ये च जात्यन्धाः पङ्गवस्तथा

Transliteration

ye me kule luptapiṇḍāḥ puttradāravivarjitāḥ / kriyālo pahatā ye ca jātyandhāḥ paṅgavastathā

Translation

میرے خاندان میں وہ جن کے لیے پِنڈ کا سلسلہ منقطع ہو گیا، جو بیٹے اور بیوی سے محروم ہیں؛ جن کی رسومات میں رکاوٹ پڑی، اور جو پیدائشی اندھے اور لنگڑے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन (enclitic)

• कुले: in the family
• कुले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• लुप्तपिण्डाः: those whose piṇḍa-offering has lapsed
• लुप्तपिण्डाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लुप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; लुप् धातु) + पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (लुप्तः पिण्डः येषाम्/लुप्त-पिण्डाः)

• पुत्त्रदारविवर्जिताः: deprived of sons and wives
• पुत्त्रदारविवर्जिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दार (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वर्ज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (पुत्र+दार) ततः तृतीया/पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (पुत्रदारैः/पुत्रदाराभ्यां विवर्जिताः = devoid of sons and wives)

• क्रियालोपहता: afflicted due to omission of rites
• क्रियालोपहता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + लोप (प्रातिपदिक) + हत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; हन् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (पाठानुसार बहुवचनार्थे); समासः—तत्पुरुष (क्रियाणां लोपेन हताः = harmed by omission of rites)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• जात्यन्धाः: blind from birth
• जात्यन्धाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (जात्या अन्धाः = blind by birth)

• पङ्गवः: lame persons
• पङ्गवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्गु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing his ancestors (Pitṛs) in context

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha performed to restore continuity for lapsed offerings; can be aligned with annual śrāddha/Mahalaya context though not explicit

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Those deprived of descendants or whose rites were obstructed (and other vulnerable persons) should not be abandoned; śrāddha intention must cover ‘lुप्त-पिण्ड’ cases.

Vedantic Theme: Compassionate dharma addressing suffering caused by social contingency; karma operates, yet living agents can offer supportive acts (anugraha) within dharma.

Application: Perform śrāddha/charity for ‘unperformed rites’ cases—forgotten ancestors, childless relatives, and socially isolated dead; keep family records and communal remembrance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana discussions on lुप्त-पिण्ड pitṛs and the consequences of neglected śrāddha; remedies through offerings and saṅkalpa

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that ancestors in a lineage may become “luptapiṇḍa” (deprived of offerings) when rites are discontinued, indicating piṇḍa-dāna and related Śrāddha acts are central supports for ancestral welfare.

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

By listing those whose rites are obstructed or absent, the verse implies that proper post-death ceremonies affect the departed’s condition and support in the post-mortem journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain continuity of Śrāddha and piṇḍa-related rites (or their accepted substitutes per tradition) and ensure funeral procedures are completed properly, especially when family circumstances make customary performance difficult.