To whom shall we offer pinda?

Arjuna Vishada Yoga 

Chapter 1, Verse 42

 

saṅkaro narakāyaiva 

kula-ghnānāṁ kulasya ca 

patanti pitaro hyeṣāṁ 

lupta-piṇḍodaka-kriyāḥ

 

This confusion leads the family and the destroyers of the family to Hell; for  

their ancestors fall, deprived of pinda (rice offering) and libations. 

As I said earlier, the pitris were very important in the tradition at that time. Arjuna asks, “To whom shall we offer pinda? A pinda is a rice ball. In the Christian orthodox tradition, in the ritual for the departed ones, you always offer wheat, koliva, to the departed souls. In the Hindu tradition, it is similar, but the offering is made of rice. This is offered to the departed people along with water, tilatarpana. Before the Navaratri celebrations, we do the Shraddha ceremony to the ancestors. Arjuna asks, “But if there is a mixture of cultures, to whom shall we offer the Shraddha? Each culture comes from a certain family lineage. If this lineage is broken, to whom shall we offer?  

If all the families are mixed, the race will be of completely mixed blood. There will be no dharma at all. There will be disrespect for the scriptures. The ancestors on the other side will be very sad and that will create much unhappiness in this world.”

In his confusion, Arjuna tries to find all kinds of excuses not to fight. He sees that Krishna is just looking at him, not bothered about these things. Arjuna is using all kinds of words to please Krishna, to make Krishna agree with him. Like I explained earlier, when one is in a depressed state, he will look to everybody else to acknowledge  

his depression. Arjuna is depressed and trying to make Krishna say, “Poor you! We will not fight.” He is trying to make Krishna acknowledge that whatever he is saying is right. He is in a state of deep confusion and the Great Doctor is sitting there with him! Do you think that the Great Doctor would just sit there, start crying with him and  

say, “Oh, my God! Oh, Arjuna, you are right, let’s go back!” No, no, no, no, no! Not a chance, not a chance! 

Arjuna continues on and starts talking about the women. He says to himself,  

“Let me use this approach now. Maybe this will have an effect on Him.” He knows that Krishna loves to protect women and children, “He is the protector of women, so let me use this excuse.” So he says, “When the family is destroyed, the women will be corrupted!” Krishna just looks at him and says, “Okay, yes. Okay, fine. Move on.” Arjuna continues, “The children will be corrupted! They will not know which bloodline they come from!” Krishna says, “Poor Arjuna, you are a super-confused man!” Arjuna sees that this is not working.  

“So let’s try another approach.” Arjuna incontinues trying to make Krishna feel  

guilty, so He will say, “Okay, fine, let’s go!” Arjuna has used the excuse of the women, he has used the excuse of the children, and finally he uses the excuse of the ancestors.  

Krishna says, “Oh, My goodness! These people have already died. Move on, finish with that!” But Arjuna persists, “The ancestors will be deprived of pinda and liberation.” At that moment, Krishna is probably thinking, “You don’t know anything: these people  

are already dead! They have moved on with their lives. So, move on!” Arjuna thinks, “Maybe there is still another card I can play. Let’s try it!”

Bhagavad Gita