Shloka 10

Svapnādhāya (Dream-Chapter): Causes, Forms, Nourishment, and Liberation of Pretas

Devanagari script

वृषोत्सर्गादिलुप्ताश्चलुप्तमासिकपिण्डकाः / यस्यानयति शूद्रोग्निं तृणकाष्ठहवींषि सः

Transliteration

vṛṣotsargādiluptāścaluptamāsikapiṇḍakāḥ / yasyānayati śūdrogniṃ tṛṇakāṣṭhahavīṃṣi saḥ

Translation

Wer Riten wie den vṛṣotsarga (Darbringung/Freilassung des Stieres) vernachlässigt hat und wessen monatliche piṇḍa-Gaben erloschen sind—für einen solchen bringt ein Śūdra das heilige Feuer, samt Gras, Brennholz und den Opfergaben (havis).

Word by Word

• वृष: bull
• वृष: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; here as prior member in compound

• उत्सर्ग: release (ritual letting loose)
• उत्सर्ग: Karma (Object/कर्म) (as qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; here as prior member in compound

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: आद्यार्थक अव्यय (etc.) used in compound

• लुप्ताः: omitted, lapsed
• लुप्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लुप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (omitted, lost)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• लुप्त: omitted
• लुप्त: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लुप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; here as prior member in compound

• मासिक: monthly
• मासिक: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मासिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; here as prior member in compound

• पिण्डकाः: rice-balls (piṇḍa offerings)
• पिण्डकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• यस्य: of whom/whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• आनयति: brings, leads
• आनयति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + नी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शूद्र: a Śūdra
• शूद्र: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; here as prior member in compound

• अग्निम्: fire
• अग्निम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तृण: grass
• तृण: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; here as prior member in compound

• काष्ठ: wood
• काष्ठ: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; here as prior member in compound

• हवींषि: oblations
• हवींषि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Monthly (māsika) offerings; also references vṛṣotsarga as an ancillary rite

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglect of obligatory rites (vṛṣotsarga, māsika piṇḍa) disrupts ancestral welfare and ritual order; proper agency and purity in rites matter.

Vedantic Theme: Karma is reinforced or mitigated through dharmic action; ritual duty (as karma-yoga in a traditional frame) supports social and subtle order.

Application: Maintain remembrance/offerings for departed; if rites lapse, seek learned guidance for corrective śrāddha; uphold dignity and competence in end-of-life and memorial practices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: household/cremation-ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: detailed śrāddha procedures including māsika offerings and remedies for lapses; Garuda Purana: discussions of vṛṣotsarga as a rite connected with preta/pitṛ welfare

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Shudra
• Pinda
• Vṛṣotsarga

FAQs

What is the importance of māsika piṇḍa (monthly piṇḍa offerings) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats monthly piṇḍa as a required continuation of post-death rites; letting it lapse is presented as a serious ritual omission that affects how one’s funerary procedures are carried out.

How does this verse explain the consequences of neglecting prescribed death rites?

It links neglect of key rites (like vṛṣotsarga and māsika piṇḍa) with an inauspicious or irregular performance of ritual logistics—symbolized by a Śūdra being the one to bring the fire and offerings—highlighting loss of proper ritual order (vidhi).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain continuity and sincerity in ancestral rites (as per one’s tradition and capacity), and if full ritual performance is not possible, prioritize respectful remembrance and consult a qualified priest for acceptable alternatives rather than abandoning the observances entirely.