Shloka 102

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

त्रिपक्षे जलसंयुक्तं क्षितौ दत्तं ततो व्रजेत् / व्रजन्नेवं प्रलपते खड्गाघातप्रपीडितः

Transliteration

tripakṣe jalasaṃyuktaṃ kṣitau dattaṃ tato vrajet / vrajannevaṃ pralapate khaḍgāghātaprapīḍitaḥ

Translation

Nach drei Vierzehntagen, nachdem man das Opfer auf der Erde zusammen mit Wasser dargebracht hat, soll man dann aufbrechen. Während er geht, klagt er so, gepeinigt, als wäre er von einem Schwertstreich getroffen.

Word by Word

• त्रिपक्षे: in the third fortnight / after three fortnights
• त्रिपक्षे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कालाधिकरणे (locative of time)

• जलसंयुक्तम्: mixed/combined with water
• जलसंयुक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• क्षितौ: on the ground/earth
• क्षितौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; देशाधिकरणे

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• ततः: then/from there
• ततः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमसूचक (from there/then)

• व्रजेत्: should go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• व्रजन्: going
• व्रजन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• प्रलपते: laments/speaks incoherently
• प्रलपते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √लप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• खड्गाघातप्रपीडितः: tormented by the blow of a sword
• खड्गाघातप्रपीडितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आघात (प्रातिपदिक) + प्र + √पीड् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थः (instrumental sense: by sword-blow) + कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After three fortnights (tripaḳṣa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Post-mortem experience is shaped by prior deeds and by the support of rites; the journey begins with suffering when merit/support is insufficient.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and the embodied sense of pain persisting in subtle form until release/support is obtained.

Application: Perform timely post-death rites with water-offerings; cultivate merit and charity during life to reduce fear and suffering at death.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: monthly preta-journey stages and dependence on offerings (adjacent verses 2.5.101–110 context); Garuda Purana: descriptions of preta’s pain and lament during yamaduta-led travel (Pretakalpa sections)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of offering with water on the ground after three fortnights in the Garuda Purana?

This verse points to a time-bound post-death rite where an offering made on the earth with water is prescribed; it is presented as part of the transitional care for the preta during its difficult onward journey.

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

It depicts the departing preta as moving onward while wailing, experiencing intense distress—likened to the torment of a sword-strike—highlighting the harshness of the post-mortem passage without proper support.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform post-death rites conscientiously (especially water-linked offerings and shraddha duties) and live ethically, since the text frames the after-death journey as painful and in need of dharmic support from the family.