Shloka 31

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

विश्रामे काष्ठचयने तथा सञ्चयने च षट् / शृणु तत्कारणं तार्क्ष्य षट् पिण्डपरिकल्पने

Transliteration

viśrāme kāṣṭhacayane tathā sañcayane ca ṣaṭ / śṛṇu tatkāraṇaṃ tārkṣya ṣaṭ piṇḍaparikalpane

Translation

In the rites concerning the resting-place, the piling of the funeral wood, and the gathering of the remains, there are six observances. Hear, O Tārkṣya (Garuda), the reason for these six in the prescribed preparation of the piṇḍa (funerary offering).

Word by Word

• विश्रामे: at the resting-place / in rest
• विश्रामे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place/time)

• काष्ठचयने: at the wood-pile/wood-collection
• काष्ठचयने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + चयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (काष्ठस्य चयनम्)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यतासूचक (adverb: 'likewise/also')

• सञ्चयने: at the storing/accumulation place
• सञ्चयने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सञ्चयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction 'and')

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; (here) संख्या-विशेषणम्

• शृणु: hear; listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तत्कारणम्: the reason for that
• तत्कारणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म; तत्पुरुष (तस्य कारणम्)

• तार्क्ष्य: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• तार्क्ष्य: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (here) संख्या-विशेषणम्

• पिण्डपरिकल्पने: in the arrangement/preparation of piṇḍas
• पिण्डपरिकल्पने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + परिकल्पन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण; तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य परिकल्पनम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Tarkshya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately connected with antyeṣṭi stations: resting-place, pyre-stacking, and post-cremation collection sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Antyeṣṭi and piṇḍa-parikalpana are structured into six observances with causal rationale (kāraṇa) to ensure proper transition and protection.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purificatory duty (niyata-karma) supporting saṃskāra and orderly passage of the jīva.

Application: Follow the prescribed sequence and count of observances in resting-place, pyre arrangement, and bone-collection rites; treat piṇḍa preparation as rule-governed, not improvised.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: cremation ground and associated liminal ritual stations

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: piṇḍa-dāna and antyeṣṭi procedural sequences (adjacent verses in 2.15); Garuda Purana: śrāddha-prakaraṇa themes of piṇḍa formation and beneficiary designation

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tarkshya)

FAQs

What is the importance of the “six” observances mentioned in this Garuda Purana verse?

This verse signals that specific funeral stages—resting/cessation, pyre arrangement, and post-cremation collection—are linked to a structured set of six observances, whose rationale is explained in relation to properly preparing piṇḍa offerings for the departed.

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

Indirectly: it frames correct ritual performance (especially piṇḍa preparation) as essential support for the departed’s post-death journey, and introduces an explanation of why these ritual counts and steps are prescribed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform last rites and piṇḍa-dāna with care, clarity, and guidance from competent tradition—treating each stage (cremation setup and later collection) as part of an intentional, ordered duty toward the deceased.