Shloka 39

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

इत्येवं पञ्चभिः पिण्डैः शवस्याहुतियोग्यता / अन्यथा चोपघाताय पूर्वोक्तास्ते भवन्ति हि

Transliteration

ityevaṃ pañcabhiḥ piṇḍaiḥ śavasyāhutiyogyatā / anyathā copaghātāya pūrvoktāste bhavanti hi

Translation

So wird durch diese fünf Piṇḍas der Leichnam geeignet, die Āhutis, die rituellen Darbringungen, zu empfangen. Andernfalls werden eben jene zuvor beschriebenen Riten wahrlich zur Ursache von Schaden.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative: ‘thus’)

• एवम्: in this way
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (in this manner)

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (पिण्डैः इत्यस्य विशेषण) तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; सर्वलिङ्ग-प्रयोग

• पिण्डैः: with piṇḍa offerings (rice-balls)
• पिण्डैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• शवस्य: of the corpse
• शवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• आहुतियोग्यता: fitness for oblation
• आहुतियोग्यता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहुति (प्रातिपदिक) + योग्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आहुतेः योग्यता)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (otherwise)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• उपघाताय: for harm/obstruction
• उपघाताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपघात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (dative of purpose)

• पूर्वोक्ताः: previously mentioned
• पूर्वोक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व + उक्त (√वच्/√वद्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे विशेषण (previously mentioned)

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• भवन्ति: become/are
• भवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुबोधक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed/for)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the antyeṣṭi/early preta period, with five piṇḍas as a defined set

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual causality: prescribed piṇḍa sequence establishes yogyatā; deviation produces upaghāta (harmful consequence).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa causality and niyama: right action yields order; wrong action yields disturbance—discipline as a means to reduce suffering.

Application: Ensure the complete set of prescribed piṇḍas is performed; consult competent officiants; avoid omissions driven by haste, fear, or cost-cutting.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-process (antyeṣṭi sequence)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.15.40 (details of piṇḍa timings); Garuda Purana 2.15.37–38 (preta designation during these rites)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of offering five piṇḍas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the five piṇḍas make the deceased fit to receive ritual offerings; they are presented as a necessary step in the post-death rites.

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

It implies that correct piṇḍa-related rites support the departed’s post-death condition; without proper eligibility for offerings, the intended support can turn obstructive or harmful within the preta-state framework described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna carefully and respectfully according to tradition and competent guidance, emphasizing sincerity and correctness rather than haste or negligence.