Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 15

Explanation of Purification (Śuddhi-vyākhyāna)

Devanagari script

अन्येभ्यश्चापि सर्वेभ्यः पिण्डदानार्थमुद्धरेत् / पृथग्वा दश पिण्डांश्च पञ्च दद्यात् क्रमेण तु

Transliteration

anyebhyaścāpi sarvebhyaḥ piṇḍadānārthamuddharet / pṛthagvā daśa piṇḍāṃśca pañca dadyāt krameṇa tu

Translation

دیگر سب کے لیے بھی پِنڈ دان کی خاطر حصہ الگ نکالے؛ یا الگ الگ دس پِنڈ، پھر پانچ پِنڈ مقررہ ترتیب سے پیش کرے۔

Word by Word

• anyebhyaḥ: to others
• anyebhyaḥ: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Dative/Ablative (4th/5th), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• api: also
• api: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• sarvebhyaḥ: to all
• sarvebhyaḥ: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Dative/Ablative (4th/5th), Plural

• piṇḍadānārtham: for the purpose of offering Pindas
• piṇḍadānārtham: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: piṇḍadānārtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial usage (artham suffix)

• uddharet: should take out / set aside
• uddharet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (हृ) + ud (उद्)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-Lin), 3rd Person, Singular

• pṛthak: separately
• pṛthak: Kriya-visheshana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• vā: or
• vā: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral, Accusative, Plural

• piṇḍān: Pindas (rice balls)
• piṇḍān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• pañca: five
• pañca: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral, Accusative, Plural

• dadyāt: should give/offer
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-Lin), 3rd Person, Singular

• krameṇa: in order / sequentially
• krameṇa: Karana (Instrument/Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: during piṇḍa-dāna segment; offerings set aside for others and/or ten then five sequentially

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karmic responsibility extends beyond the immediate departed; ordered piṇḍa distribution embodies ṛṇa (debts) to ancestors and connected beings.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual action as expression of interconnectedness; fulfilling pitṛ-ṛṇa supports inner steadiness and dharmic life.

Application: Remember broader family lineage and forgotten dependents in memorial charity; keep a clear, consistent method rather than improvising under emotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana piṇḍa-vidhi passages: number and sequence of piṇḍas; inclusion of related beings/ancestors

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of pinda-dana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that piṇḍa offerings should be apportioned for all relevant recipients (ancestors/related departed) and performed in an ordered sequence, indicating ritual completeness and proper transmission of the offering.

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

Within the Preta-kāṇḍa context, orderly piṇḍa-dāna supports the departed (preta) and the ancestral line (pitṛs), reflecting the belief that post-death transition is aided by correctly performed rites and timely offerings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha or memorial rites, follow a recognized tradition/priestly guidance for sequencing and allocation of offerings, and approach the ritual with clarity of intention—supporting ancestors while maintaining disciplined observance.