Shloka 43
Garuḍa’s Return to Vaikuṇṭha and the Comprehensive Inquiry into Death-Rites and the Preta’s Journey
तैलोद्वर्तनकं चापि दधुः स्थूलजलाशये / दशमे ऽहनि यत्पिण्डं तद्दद्या दामिषेण तु
tailodvartanakaṃ cāpi dadhuḥ sthūlajalāśaye / daśame 'hani yatpiṇḍaṃ taddadyā dāmiṣeṇa tu
Sie vollziehen auch die Öleinreibung und legen Dadhi (geronnene Milch) in ein weites Wasserbecken. Und den piṇḍa, der am zehnten Tag darzubringen ist, soll man mit Fleisch als Beigabe darbringen.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Ritual Type: Ekoddishta
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Tenth day piṇḍa offering (daśame’ hani) with specified accompaniments.
Concept: Specific upacāras in preta-related rites: substances (oil, curd, meat) are prescribed as materially efficacious supports within the ritual economy of karma-phala.
Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-based ritual substances operating in vyavahāra; the tradition’s pragmatic symbolism (cooling, grounding, nourishment) without claiming ultimate liberation.
Application: If following this tradition, adhere to prescribed substances per one’s śākhā/ācāra; where non-violence norms prevail, seek sanctioned substitutions (anukalpa) from dharma authorities.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: ritual bathing place
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: lists of piṇḍa materials and day-wise offerings; Garuda Purana: discussions of anukalpa (substitutes) in rites in some recensions/traditions
FAQs
This verse marks the tenth day as a specific and mandated time for a distinct piṇḍa offering, indicating that day-wise offerings are prescribed and not interchangeable in the preta-rite sequence.
By prescribing concrete preta-kriyā actions (massage, water/curd placement, and a timed piṇḍa), the text implies that the departed’s post-death condition is supported by ritual provisions made by the living during the transitional preta period.
Follow day-specific śrāddha/preta-rite instructions as per one’s tradition and family ācāra, and consult qualified priests for correct procedure—especially for timed offerings like the tenth-day piṇḍa.