Shloka 40

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

उत्क्रामे प्रथमं पिण्डं तथा चार्धपयेपि च / चितायां तु तृतीयं स्यात्त्रयः पिण्डाश्च कल्पिताः

Transliteration

utkrāme prathamaṃ piṇḍaṃ tathā cārdhapayepi ca / citāyāṃ tu tṛtīyaṃ syāttrayaḥ piṇḍāśca kalpitāḥ

Translation

At the time of departure from the body, the first piṇḍa is to be offered; likewise at the half-way stage. Upon the funeral pyre (citā), the third is to be offered—thus three piṇḍa offerings are prescribed.

Word by Word

• उत्क्रामे: at the time of departure (of prāṇa)
• उत्क्रामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्क्राम (प्रातिपदिक; ‘departure’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• प्रथमम्: the first
• प्रथमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘पिण्डम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• पिण्डम्: piṇḍa offering
• पिण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (likewise/also)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• अर्धपये: at the ‘ardha-paya’ stage
• अर्धपये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्धपय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पयः अर्धम् = ‘half-milk/half of milk’; here a ritual stage)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• चितायाम्: on the pyre
• चितायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-निपात

• तृतीयम्: the third
• तृतीयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘(पिण्डम्)’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (ellipsis)

• स्यात्: should be/would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘पिण्डाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• पिण्डाः: piṇḍas (offerings)
• पिण्डाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• कल्पिताः: are prescribed/arranged
• कल्पिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √कॢप् (धातु) + क्त → कल्पित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle: ‘arranged/ordained’)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: (1) at utkrānti, (2) at ‘half-way’ stage, (3) on the pyre

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Stage-based prescription: three piṇḍas are to be offered at defined moments (departure, midway, pyre), reflecting dharma as ordered action in liminal time.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as structured saṃskāra supporting the jīva’s passage; disciplined action as a means to reduce saṃsāric turbulence (implied).

Application: Follow the timing of piṇḍa offerings as a staged protocol; coordinate family and officiant roles so offerings occur at the correct moments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: processional/liminal stages of antyeṣṭi

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.15.39 (five piṇḍas and yogyatā); Garuda Purana 2.15.37–38 (preta designation beginning with these rites)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of the three piṇḍas mentioned in this verse of the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes three specific piṇḍa offerings at key moments of the funeral sequence—departure, a midway stage, and on the pyre—indicating a structured ritual support for the departed’s transition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death in the Garuda Purana context?

By mapping piṇḍa offerings to stages (utkrānti, ardha-patha, and citā), the verse implies the preta’s transition is processual, with rites performed in sequence to aid the onward journey rather than as a single act.

Practical application of this wisdom today for Garuda Purana death rituals?

It emphasizes timely, stage-based observance of antyeṣṭi and related piṇḍa-dāna—encouraging families to follow an ordered ritual schedule with care and intention for the departed.