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Shloka 57

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

केचिद्दुग्धेन सिञ्चन्ति चितास्थानं खगेश्वर / अश्रुपातं न कुर्वीत दद्यादस्मै जलाञ्जलीन्

Transliteration

keciddugdhena siñcanti citāsthānaṃ khageśvara / aśrupātaṃ na kurvīta dadyādasmai jalāñjalīn

Translation

Manche besprengen den Ort des Scheiterhaufens mit Milch, o Herr der Vögel. Dort soll keine Träne fallen; vielmehr bringe man dem Verstorbenen Wasserlibationen dar—Handvoll Wasser (jalāñjali).

Word by Word
केचित्some (people)
केचित्:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootक (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रयोगः (some people)
दुग्धेनwith milk
दुग्धेन:
Karana (Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootदुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन
सिञ्चन्तिsprinkle
सिञ्चन्ति:
Kriya (Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootसिच् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद
चितास्थानम्the cremation-place
चितास्थानम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootचिता + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चितायाः स्थानम्)
खगेश्वरO lord of birds (Garuḍa)
खगेश्वर:
Sambodhana (Address)
TypeNoun
Rootखग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)
अश्रुपातम्shedding of tears
अश्रुपातम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootअश्रु + पात (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अश्रूणां पातः)
नnot
न:
Pratishedha (Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-निपात (negation particle)
कुर्वीतshould do
कुर्वीत:
Kriya (Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद
दद्यात्should give
दद्यात्:
Kriya (Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootदा (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
अस्मैto him
अस्मै:
Sampradana (Recipient)
TypeNoun
Rootअदस्/इदम्-प्रकार (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक: अस्मद्)
Formसर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन (to him/for him)
जलाञ्जलीन्handfuls of water (libations)
जलाञ्जलीन्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootजल + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (जलस्य अञ्जलयः = handfuls of water)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At the pyre-site during/after cremation rites

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Grief is to be transformed into rite: avoid tear-fall at the pyre-site; offer water-libations for the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as compassionate order: channeling emotion into prescribed action that supports the jīva’s transition.

Application: At the cremation site, maintain composure; perform añjali-jala offerings for the deceased rather than uncontrolled weeping.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cremation ground/pyre-site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.15.58 (tears as preta’s forced food); Garuda Purana 2.15.59 (milk/water offerings for three days)

Characters & Entities
G
Garuda
P
Preta (the departed)

FAQs

This verse emphasizes replacing uncontrolled grief with a prescribed rite—offering water to the departed—presented as the proper support and remembrance at the cremation site.

In this instruction, the cremation ground is treated as a ritual space where disciplined conduct is preferred; the text directs the mourner toward dharmic action (water offerings) rather than emotional outpouring during the rite.

During funerals, maintain composure as far as possible, follow the family’s rites (such as water offerings), and channel grief into respectful, structured remembrance and duty.

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