Shloka 34

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

दत्तेन तेन प्रीणन्ति द्वारस्था गृहदेवताः / चत्वरे खेचरो नाम तमुद्दिश्य प्रदापयेत्

Transliteration

dattena tena prīṇanti dvārasthā gṛhadevatāḥ / catvare khecaro nāma tamuddiśya pradāpayet

Translation

By that offering, the household deities stationed at the doorway are satisfied. At the crossroads, one should make an offering, dedicating it to the being named Khecara.

Word by Word

• दत्तेन: by the given (offering)
• दत्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √दा)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण; क्त-प्रत्यय (given)

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण

• प्रीणन्ति: are pleased
• प्रीणन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्री (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• द्वारस्थाः: stationed at the door
• द्वारस्थाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (गृहदेवताः); तत्पुरुष (द्वारे स्थाः)

• गृहदेवताः: the house-deities
• गृहदेवताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्ता; तत्पुरुष (गृहस्य देवताः)

• चत्वरे: at the crossroads/open square
• चत्वरे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चत্বর (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• खेचरः: Khecara (name of a being/deity)
• खेचरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (नाम)

• नाम: named
• नाम: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-प्रयोगे

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• उद्दिश्य: having addressed/with reference to
• उद्दिश्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'उद्दिश्य' = उद्देशं कृत्वा (having intended/addressed)

• प्रदापयेत्: should offer/give (to be given)
• प्रदापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु) [णिच् causative]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच् (causative: 'should cause to give/should offer')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After doorway offering; at the crossroads during the immediate funeral-offering circuit

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Station-specific offerings satisfy localized household deities; at the crossroads, an offering to ‘Khecara’ addresses beings of the in-between spaces.

Vedantic Theme: Recognition of layered adhikāra of devatās/bhūtas over spaces; karma as harmonizing with unseen orders to reduce impediments.

Application: After doorway offering, proceed to the crossroads and offer a piṇḍa specifically dedicated to Khecara to neutralize liminal disturbances.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: threshold and public intersection

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.15: offerings to named recipients at successive stations (Śava, Pāntha, Khecara, Bhūta); Garuda Purana: bhūta-preta appeasement logic in funeral contexts (general)

Characters & Entities

• Griha-devatas
• Dvarastha devatas
• Khecara

FAQs

What is the importance of offering at the doorway in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offerings made with the proper dedication please the household/threshold deities (dvārasthā gṛhadevatāḥ), implying ritual completeness and protection as the rites proceed.

Why does the verse mention an offering at the crossroads and Khecara?

It prescribes a specific dedication at a junction (catvara), naming Khecara as the intended recipient—reflecting the Garuda Purana’s detailed mapping of liminal spaces (thresholds, crossings) in death-ritual procedure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform any ancestral or memorial giving with clear intention (uddiśya) and respect for place-based sacred boundaries (home threshold, crossings), emphasizing mindful charity and disciplined ritual conduct.