Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

विरूपा आमगर्भाश्च ज्ञाताज्ञाताः कुले मम / तेषां पिण्डं मया दत्तमक्षय्यमुपतिष्ठताम्

Transliteration

virūpā āmagarbhāśca jñātājñātāḥ kule mama / teṣāṃ piṇḍaṃ mayā dattamakṣayyamupatiṣṭhatām

Translation

Nguyện cho piṇḍa (cơm cúng tang) mà con đã dâng trở thành chỗ nương tựa bất hoại cho tất cả trong dòng tộc của con—dù là người dị dạng, kẻ chết trong bào thai/thân chưa thành, dù con biết hay không biết.

Word by Word

• विरूपाः: deformed/ugly (ones)
• विरूपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• आमगर्भाः: (those) with undeveloped womb/embryos; miscarried (ones)
• आमगर्भाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आम + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (āma-garbha = unripe/undeveloped fetus/embryo)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ज्ञाताः: known
• ज्ञाताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञात (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) विशेषण

• अज्ञाताः: unknown
• अज्ञाताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञात (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक भूतकृदन्त (PPP) विशेषण

• कुले: in the family/lineage
• कुले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana/Agent-instrument (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दत्त (कृदन्त; √दा धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) — ‘given’ (agreeing with पिण्डम्)

• अक्षय्यम्: imperishable; inexhaustible
• अक्षय्यम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of पिण्डम्/दत्तम्)

• उपतिष्ठताम्: may (it/they) attend/stand by; may it be present
• उपतिष्ठताम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the Garuda Purana dialogue framework)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha occasion (tithi-based; also applicable at tīrtha-śrāddha)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-ṛṇa is addressed by offering piṇḍa for all ancestors, including those without clear social memory or complete bodily formation.

Vedantic Theme: Ṛṇa-traya and dharma as a purifier of saṃskāra; compassion as sattvic duty supporting subtle continuity beyond death.

Application: During śrāddha, explicitly dedicate offerings to known/unknown ancestors, including miscarried/stillborn and socially unacknowledged relatives, with a clear saṅkalpa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-kalpa sections on piṇḍa-dāna for all pitṛs and the ‘known/unknown’ formula; Garuda Purana discussions of preta support through piṇḍa and udaka

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of offering piṇḍa for unknown or forgotten ancestors in the Garuda Purana?

This verse explicitly includes both jñāta (known) and ajñāta (unknown) members of one’s lineage, indicating that piṇḍa-dāna is meant to reach and support even those ancestors whose identities are not remembered.

How does this verse explain support to souls who died before birth (āma-garbha)?

By naming āma-garbha (those who died in the womb/undeveloped), the verse affirms that śrāddha and piṇḍa offerings are not limited to those who lived a full life; the ritual intention can extend nourishment/support to such departed beings as well.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or annual ancestor rites, include a universal sankalpa (intention) for all ancestors—known/unknown, including those who died early—so the offering is inclusive and ethically rooted in gratitude and responsibility to lineage.