Shloka 31

Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

दिनानि दश यान्षिण्डान्कुर्वन्त्यत्र सुतादयः / प्रत्यहं ते विभज्यन्ते चतुर्भागैः खगोत्तम

Transliteration

dināni daśa yānṣiṇḍānkurvantyatra sutādayaḥ / pratyahaṃ te vibhajyante caturbhāgaiḥ khagottama

Translation

لمدّةِ عشرةِ أيامٍ يُعِدُّ الأبناءُ وسائرُ الأقاربِ هنا قرابينَ البِنْدَة (piṇḍa). وفي كلِّ يومٍ، يا أكرمَ الطيرِ (غارودا)، تُقسَّمُ تلك القرابينُ إلى أربعةِ أقسام.

Word by Word

• दिनानि: days
• दिनानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण (दिनानि)

• यान्: which
• यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• पिण्डान्: piṇḍa-balls
• पिण्डान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• कुर्वन्ति: they make/perform
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• सुतादयः: sons and others
• सुतादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘सुताः आदयः’ (sons and others)

• प्रत्यहम्: every day
• प्रत्यहम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (each day)

• ते: they/those (piṇḍas)
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• विभज्यन्ते: are divided/apportioned
• विभज्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• चतुर्भागैः: into four parts
• चतुर्भागैः: Sahakari (Instrument/Measure/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यापूर्वक-तत्पुरुषः (चारः भागाः)

• खगोत्तम: O best of birds (Garuda)
• खगोत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः खगः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Daily for ten days (daśāha) after death

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ten-day daily piṇḍa preparation by sons/relatives and fourfold division each day as prescribed order.

Vedantic Theme: Steady karma (niyata-karma) performed with śraddhā purifies the doer and supports dharmic continuity amid mortality.

Application: Ensure daily continuity of offerings for ten days; divide the offering into four parts according to the tradition’s rule (e.g., designated shares for preta/ancestors/attendants/ritual space as locally specified).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household śrāddha space (daily)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.5: ten-day piṇḍa regimen and distribution rules in surrounding verses; Garuda Purana: explanations of how piṇḍas aid the preta-body formation in later Pretakalpa passages (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Sons (sutādayaḥ)
• Piṇḍa (funeral offering)

FAQs

What is the importance of the ten-day piṇḍa offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that for ten days the family (especially sons) performs piṇḍa offerings, indicating an organized, time-bound post-death rite meant to support the departed’s transitional state.

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

By emphasizing daily piṇḍa offerings and their regulated division, the verse points to a structured ritual support system during the preta period, when the departed is understood to be in an in-between condition requiring ritual assistance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows these rites, perform the ten-day śrāddha/piṇḍa-dāna with consistency and care; more broadly, it teaches responsibility toward ancestors and disciplined observance of dharma in family duties.