Shloka 11

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

वस्त्रयुग्मं च दातव्यं कङ्कुमैश्चाक्षतैर्यजेत् / पुष्पमालायुतं कुर्यादन्यद्वारेण सन्नयेत्

Transliteration

vastrayugmaṃ ca dātavyaṃ kaṅkumaiścākṣatairyajet / puṣpamālāyutaṃ kuryādanyadvāreṇa sannayet

Translation

One should donate a pair of garments and perform worship with saffron and unbroken grains of rice. One should also arrange the offering together with a garland of flowers, and bring it in through a different doorway.

Word by Word

• वस्त्रयुग्मम्: a pair of garments
• वस्त्रयुग्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वस्त्राणां युग्मम्)

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

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-भावः (ought to be given)

• कङ्कुमैः: with saffron
• कङ्कुमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

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

• अक्षतैः: with unbroken rice grains
• अक्षतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• यजेत्: should worship/perform offering
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• पुष्पमालायुतम्: adorned with a flower garland
• पुष्पमालायुतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्पमाला (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (पुष्पमालया युतम् = adorned with a garland)

• कुर्यात्: should do/make
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• अन्यद्वारेण: through another door
• अन्यद्वारेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समासः (अन्यं द्वारम्)

• सन्नयेत्: should bring/lead in
• सन्नयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately connected to antyeṣṭi/early post-death observances (contextual)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna and upacāra-pūjā performed with śraddhā and śauca support the departed and stabilize the living through prescribed conduct.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as niyati-bound duty (vihita-karma) that purifies the mind (citta-śuddhi) and expresses reverence for the subtle journey of the jīva.

Application: Give clothing as dāna; worship with kunkuma and akṣata; include flower garland; follow prescribed entry/exit rules to maintain ritual cleanliness and focus.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: domestic ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Antyeṣṭi-vidhi sections on dāna, upacāra, and śauca (contextual parallel within 2.15).

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of donating garments in the Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse prescribes giving a pair of clothes as part of the rite, treating it as a dharmic offering (dāna) that supports proper ritual completion and merits for the departed context.

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

Indirectly: it focuses on correct ritual protocol—worship with akṣata and kunkuma, floral accompaniment, and prescribed manner of bringing offerings—actions that the Preta Kanda frames as supportive observances during post-death rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing antyeṣṭi/śrāddha-related observances, include respectful dāna (like clothing), keep offerings pure (akṣata, flowers), and follow family/ācārya-guided procedural rules rather than improvising.