Shloka 138

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

पितृभ्योपि हि यद्दत्तमर्घपिण्डविवर्जितम् / कर्तव्यं तच्च वै सर्वमेष एव विधिः स्मृतः

Transliteration

pitṛbhyopi hi yaddattamarghapiṇḍavivarjitam / kartavyaṃ tacca vai sarvameṣa eva vidhiḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

Bất cứ điều gì đã dâng cho các Pitṛ (Tổ tiên) mà thiếu arghya (nước cúng) và piṇḍa (viên cơm cúng) thì cũng phải được thực hành đầy đủ cho trọn; chỉ điều ấy được ghi nhớ là nghi pháp đúng đắn.

Word by Word

• पितृभ्यः: to the ancestors
• पितृभ्यः: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन; Dative plural

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); ‘also/even’

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; relative pronoun ‘which/that’

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अर्घपिण्डविवर्जितम्: devoid of argha and piṇḍa offerings
• अर्घपिण्डविवर्जितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्घ + पिण्ड + विवर्जित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अर्घपिण्डयोः विवर्जितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective qualifying ‘दत्तम्’

• कर्तव्यम्: should be performed
• कर्तव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय कृदन्त (gerundive/तव्यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be done’

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म/विषय (Topic/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

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

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective/pronoun ‘all’

• एषः: this
• एषः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• एव: only/just
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (restrictive particle)

• विधिः: rule/ordinance
• विधिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• स्मृतः: is stated/remembered
• स्मृतः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is remembered/declared’

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual acts for Pitṛs are valid only when performed with their essential limbs (aṅgas) like arghya and piṇḍa; omissions require completion.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier and sustainer of ṛta/dharma; right means (vidhi) matters for intended phala.

Application: When performing śrāddha/tarpaṇa, ensure arghya and piṇḍa are included; if previously omitted, redo/complete the rite according to tradition and family śākhā.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: gṛhya/ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta-kalpa/Śrāddha-kalpa passages on piṇḍa-udaka necessity and preta relief; Adjacent verses 2.34.141-142 on first-year śrāddha and preta distress when piṇḍa/udaka lapse

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Arghya
• Piṇḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of arghya and piṇḍa in Garuda Purana Śrāddha rituals?

This verse states that offerings to the Pitṛs are considered procedurally incomplete without arghya (water-offering) and piṇḍa (rice-ball oblation), and therefore the rite should be performed properly in full.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, correct Śrāddha components support the departed and maintain the prescribed relationship between the living and the Pitṛs; the verse emphasizes that omissions in ritual support should be corrected by completing the full procedure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing ancestor rites (Śrāddha/tarpaṇa), follow a complete, tradition-backed procedure—especially the key elements like arghya and piṇḍa—or consult a qualified priest/textual guide to avoid accidental omissions.