Shloka 70

Gayā-kṣetra and Phalgu Tīrtha: Sites, Rites, and the Liberation of the Pitṛs

Devanagari script

यावन्तो ज्ञातयः पित्र्या बान्धवाः सुहृदस्तथा / तेभ्यो व्यासगयाभूमौ पिण्डो देयो विधानतः

Transliteration

yāvanto jñātayaḥ pitryā bāndhavāḥ suhṛdastathā / tebhyo vyāsagayābhūmau piṇḍo deyo vidhānataḥ

Translation

Đối với hết thảy quyến thuộc bên nội—bà con, thân tộc, và những người thiện hữu—hãy dâng piṇḍa cho họ đúng theo nghi thức, trên thánh địa Vyāsa-Gayā.

Word by Word

• यावन्तः: as many as
• यावन्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक-विशेषण

• ज्ञातयः: kinsmen
• ज्ञातयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• पित्र्याः: paternal (relatives)
• पित्र्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण (to ज्ञातयः) — ‘paternal’

• बान्धवाः: relations; kinsfolk
• बान्धवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• सुहृदः: friends; well-wishers
• सुहृदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise; and so
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: likewise)

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• व्यासगयाभूमौ: on the Gayā ground associated with Vyāsa
• व्यासगयाभूमौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + गया (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; समासः—(व्यासस्य) गयाभूमिः / व्यासेन प्रसिद्धा गयाभूमिः (सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष)

• पिण्डः: piṇḍa offering (rice-ball)
• पिण्डः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• देयः: should be given
• देयः: Vidhana (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देय (कृदन्त; √दा धातु, यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण—‘to be given’ (gerundive)

• विधानतः: according to rule
• विधानतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Sapindana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During Gayā śrāddha, especially when integrating offerings across the paternal lineage and related kin categories as per vidhi.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha at Gayā should be expansive: offer piṇḍas not only to direct ancestors but to all paternal-side relations and well-wishers, following prescribed procedure.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as social-spiritual continuity; gratitude (ṛṇa) to lineage and community; widening of compassion beyond narrow self-interest.

Application: When performing ancestral rites, remember extended family and those who supported the family line; keep a careful list and perform offerings systematically.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/kshetra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana lists of eligible recipients in śrāddha (pitṛ-gaṇa, relatives); Gayā-mahātmya passages on comprehensive piṇḍa-dāna

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Paternal relatives
• Vyasa-Gaya
• Pinda (piṇḍa)

FAQs

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

This verse emphasizes that piṇḍa offerings are not only for direct ancestors but should also be extended—by proper rite—to all paternal-side kin and well-wishers, supporting the broader pitṛ-related obligations of śrāddha.

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

In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, piṇḍa-dāna is part of the post-death rites that aid the departed and maintain dharmic continuity with the pitṛs; the verse highlights correct ritual distribution to the wider paternal network.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna with attention to prescribed procedure (vidhi), remembering obligations to the paternal lineage and extended relations, ideally at recognized tīrthas when feasible.